Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning) In Edmonds & Serving Patients In Seattle
You should prioritize your oral health and hygiene habits for many reasons. Keeping your teeth and gums in the best possible condition by brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash can help prevent dental problems, including gum disease. Severe cases of gum disease may lead to tooth loss and medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, and heart disease.
Another way to prevent and control gum disease (and the complications that it may cause) is to schedule regular check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments. Dr. Javadi of Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants offers expert teeth cleaning in the Seattle and Edmonds areas. With her knowledge and experience, she provides deep cleaning treatments that can restore your oral health.
What Is Prophylaxis?
In medical terms, prophylaxis is anything that helps prevent disease. In dentistry, prophylaxis refers to a dental cleaning treatment. A routine cleaning appointment will allow your dentist to assess the condition of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. Regular cleaning appointments will help prevent gum disease (gingivitis) and its more advanced form (periodontitis).
If you have developed gum disease, you may need to find a periodontist to perform your dental prophylaxis. Dr. Javadi of Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants can provide a thorough and deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. For more severe cases of periodontal disease, Dr. Javadi will use scaling and root planing to rid the area below your gumline of harmful bacteria. This technique will enhance the condition of your teeth and gum tissue.
Why Is Prophylaxis Important?
Dental prophylaxis helps you maintain your oral health and prevents tooth loss while also offering many other benefits, including:
Plaque And Tartar Removal
Eating and drinking can increase bacteria in our mouths. While brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can help control this bacteria, some areas of your mouth are difficult to reach. When bacteria sit on our teeth and gums, they can harden into tartar, which requires professional removal and cleaning. Tartar removal helps avoid gum disease and the serious problems it may cause.
Prevention Of Gum Disease
Routine teeth cleaning appointments help decrease tartar buildup and reduce gum inflammation. If you have periodontal disease, a deep cleaning like scaling and root planing will clean beneath the gum line, removing tartar from the roots of your teeth and eliminating bacteria in periodontal pockets (gaps between your roots and gums).
Aesthetic Benefits
Dental prophylaxis is crucial to your oral health; however, that’s not the only benefit it offers. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can reduce stains that drinks like coffee and tea (and certain foods) can leave on your teeth. A periodontal cleaning such as scaling and root planing can help create a smoother, more aesthetic gumline, allowing you to show your smile confidently.
Fresher Breath
The bacteria that cause gum disease can also cause bad breath (halitosis). Both routine cleaning and periodontal cleaning can remove this bacteria, leaving you with fresh breath.
Early Detection Of Health Issues
Prophylaxis is more than a teeth cleaning treatment: it’s a chance for your trusted dental healthcare provider to perform a thorough checkup of your mouth, including your teeth and gums. They will also look for any problem areas like cavities, lesions, or potential signs of oral cancer.
Routine Dental Cleaning
Routine teeth cleanings are best for those with good oral health. To begin, the dentist or dental hygienist uses a scaler to remove plaque that has built up on your teeth. They will gently scrape the teeth before using a small tool and a special toothpaste to polish your teeth. Next, they floss your teeth before using water to rinse away toothpaste, plaque, and bacteria. Finally, your dentist will check your teeth for cavities or other signs of oral problems.
Scaling And Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
A deep cleaning treatment can be very beneficial if you have moderate to severe gum disease. Scaling and root planing treatment is one of the most important steps to decrease the impacts of periodontal disease. At this appointment, Dr. Javadi will first use a numbing agent to prevent pain during treatment. She will then remove tartar buildup from your teeth and along your gum line with a scaler or laser.
The next step is cleaning beneath the gums. Dr. Javadi will gently move the gums aside to reach the roots of your teeth. After removing plaque from the area–leaving smoother roots–she will reposition the gums. This step allows them to grow and reattach to the roots, preventing bacteria from settling in the area.
Periodontal Maintenance
If you have periodontal disease, you should schedule a deep cleaning appointment every three or four months. These will consist of scaling and root planing. Dr. Javadi will also check gum pockets for bacteria. She will flush the area with an antiseptic medication if any is present. Next, Dr. Javadi may polish your teeth to remove any remaining plaque or bacteria.
Gross Debridement
An excessive buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar may require a more extensive cleaning. Gross debridement aims to eliminate the tartar that has hardened on the teeth and any other potentially harmful substance. These appointments will likely be longer than a routine cleaning–or even a deep cleaning. They may also be more uncomfortable. You can avoid excessive buildup by maintaining good oral hygiene.
The Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning) Procedure In Seattle
A deep teeth cleaning appointment at Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants includes several steps, such as:
Supragingival Cleaning
Dr. Javadi will clean above the gum line. She will use a scaler or laser to break up the plaque and remove it from the teeth, ensuring they are free from harmful buildup.
Subgingival Cleaning
Dr. Javadi will repeat the process below the gums, using the scaler or laser to eliminate plaque and bacteria. She may flush periodontal pockets with medication to cleanse them if necessary. Subgingival cleaning is an essential part of periodontal disease treatment.
Root Planing
While cleaning beneath the gum line, Dr. Javadi will remove plaque from the roots of your teeth. This step will create a smoother surface, discourage bacteria from sticking to the roots, and allow the gums to reattach to the teeth.
Post-Cleaning Healing Medication
Dr. Javadi will use an antimicrobial or antibiotic medication in the periodontal pockets to protect against harmful bacteria if necessary. In case of any pain or discomfort after your periodontal cleaning, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Who Needs Prophylaxis Periodontal Treatment?
It’s ideal for everyone to see their dentist for routine teeth cleaning every six months. This appointment will help you maintain good oral health, fight gingivitis, and dramatically decrease your chances of tooth decay and loss.
If you have gum disease or its more advanced form (periodontal disease), you should schedule your cleanings more frequently. Your periodontist may recommend prophylaxis or a more extensive teeth cleaning appointment every three to four months to help treat your condition.
Why Choose Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants For Prophylaxis In Edmonds & Seattle?
When you search for services like teeth cleaning in Edmonds, you may find yourself scrolling through a long list of providers that offer this service. Our dental team’s high-quality patient care makes Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants stand out.
Dr. Javadi has treated many patients in her more than twenty years in periodontics, including those with mild to severe cases of gum disease. She uses advanced technology, such as lasers, to help remove harmful bacteria and plaque that settle on the teeth, gums, and below the gum line–so you can leave our clinic with a more aesthetic-looking, healthy smile.
How Much Does Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning) Cost In Edmond & Seattle, WA?
In medical terms, prophylaxis is anything that helps prevent disease. In dentistry, prophylaxis refers to a dental cleaning treatment. A routine cleaning appointment will allow your dentist to assess the condition of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. Regular cleaning appointments will help prevent gum disease (gingivitis) and its more advanced form (periodontitis).
If you have developed gum disease, you may need to find a periodontist to perform your dental prophylaxis. Dr. Javadi of Orchid Periodontics & Dental Implants can provide a thorough and deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. For more severe cases of periodontal disease, Dr. Javadi will use scaling and root planing to rid the area below your gumline of harmful bacteria. This technique will enhance the condition of your teeth and gum tissue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prophylaxis Painful?
The process of teeth cleaning is not usually painful. You might feel discomfort if it’s been a while since you attended a teeth cleaning appointment. Some people have a lot of anxiety during
dental appointments, which can lead to general discomfort.
When you have periodontal disease and plaque beneath the gum line, Dr. Javadi will perform a scaling and root planing treatment. She will remove plaque from the teeth before moving to the areas below your gumline, such as the roots of your teeth. Dr. Javadi will use a local anesthetic before your scaling and root planing treatment to help prevent pain.
How Often Should I Have My Teeth Cleaned?
Most dentists recommend scheduling a teeth cleaning appointment every six months. However, if you have gum disease, your periodontist may suggest a professional deep cleaning every three or four months to ensure your gums stay free of bacteria and plaque buildup.
What To Expect During The Procedure?
When you have gum disease, a teeth cleaning appointment can look different than traditional dental cleaning.
Dr. Javadi begins by numbing the area before cleaning the teeth. This treatment includes scaling, which removes the hardened tartar from your teeth. Dr. Javadi will continue this process down to the gumline. Then, she will gently move the soft tissue to clean below the gumline and remove tartar from the roots of your teeth. Dr. Javadi will also clean any periodontal pockets before completing the procedure.
Can Prophylaxis Reverse Gum Disease?
If you have mild gingivitis, a teeth cleaning may reverse the problem, especially when you maintain good oral hygiene habits and routine prophylaxis appointments. If your gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, teeth cleaning won’t reverse this condition; however, it can help manage and slow the progress of periodontitis.
What If I Have Gum Disease?
Whether you’re in the beginning stages of gum disease or dealing with a case of moderate to severe periodontal disease, a professional dental cleaning will benefit your oral health.
Hours of Operation
Our Regular Schedule
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- wednesday7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Thursday7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- FRIDAY1st & 3rd Friday of the month
- SaturdayClosed
- SundayClosed