Cosmetic Dentist
It's Not "Just a Cleaning".Your Dental Hygiene Appointment
By Diane Ghilardi, RDA
Southern California including Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, Beverly Hills, Valencia and Hollywood, California
The term "cleaning" in reference to dental care is often misunderstood, since the reason for dental hygiene visits is to stop periodontal destruction or maintain the health of the foundation of the teeth. Consider how termites destroy the foundation of a home.you don't see them, but the house won't have a foundation for long if the problem is not intercepted.
Before the "cleaning," or continuous care appointment, the dentist or hygienist should screen the patient to see if there is active periodontal disease, which is present in over 80% of the population. During the screening, a small probe is placed in several areas around the tooth between the gum tissue and the side of the tooth to assess the mobility, space around the tooth and amount of bleeding from the gums. You may hear the hygienist call out numbers ranging from 2 to 8 or 9. In general, normal ranges are 2-3mm depths and gingivitis may or may not be present. 4 or 5mm means there is evidence of some bone loss and space to trap bacteria - moderate periodontitis. Any number greater than a 5mm pocket is considered advanced periodontitis.
The basic "cleaning", called a "prophylaxis", is for the patient who has no clinical signs of disease. It is the cleaning of the coronal part of the teeth, the part above the gum line and root level. If it has been quite some time, it may first be recommended to do a "debridement" to remove some of the build up and allow a week or so to assess the status of the gums and bone.
If active periodontal disease is present, appropriate diagnostic data may be necessary. Information is discussed with the patient to enable them to make a wise decision for additional treatment to prevent further destruction, and to be proactive in keeping their teeth! Non-surgical periodontal therapy is the next step to correct or maintain the current condition and try to prevent future surgical therapies. After any periodontal therapy the periodontal maintenance will be every 3-4 months. No longer "just cleanings", periodontal maintenance procedures also include the removal of bacteria from the pocket areas, reassessment and evaluation, as well as review of the patient's plaque control efficiency and home care. Additional irrigation or medicaments may be placed and measurements may be done to track improvement of the condition.
Diane Ghilardi, RDA, Patient Coordinator
A Unique Dental Experience®
254-4000 www.drdell.com
Dell A Goodrick, D.D.S.
