Cleanings
A dental prophylaxis, or cleaning, is the cornerstone of dentistry. Though we do as much as we can in our home routines, receiving a professional cleaning from your dental hygienist is a strong aspect in the grand scheme of your oral health. Your hygienist is well versed in all things dentistry. Not only will they further your oral health with a cleaning, but they are there for tips and tricks, catching any discrepancies, and helping with any concerns you may have.
Deep Cleanings
Scaling and root planing or scaling due to gingival inflammation are the various treatments provided to those who require further interventions to prevent a disease process. We have all heard of gingivitis, which is the term we use for gum inflammation. Chronic, or long term gingivitis, could eventually cause a significant inflammatory response in our tissues and turn into what is called periodontitis. This is when we begin to lose the bone and soft tissue attachments that surround our teeth. If periodontitis is not controlled, it could cause complete tooth loss as many reversible treatment attempts are not successful. Therefore, catching this disease process early and maintaining proper hygiene and regular visits can ward off further attachment loss.
More recently, studies have seen a correlation between the bacteria in our mouth that cause certain disease processes, and that same bacteria forming plaque within our blood vessels. The thought process is that long term inflammation makes the superficial blood vessels in our gums susceptible to infiltration from these harmful bacteria. Individuals with periodontitis are typically at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, kidney concerns, and many more. Regular hygiene visits can not only keep your mouth healthy, but help ward off systemic disease processes like the ones listed above.