Periodic Cleaning and Examinations

Why are dentists so insistent about regular periodic dental cleanings and examinations? I hope the following information will help you understand our reasons.

Good oral hygiene and professional care are the keys to keeping your teeth for a lifetime. The best way to prevent periodontal diseases and tooth decay is to remove the dental plaque by thorough brushing and using floss/Stimudents. Good oral hygiene habits will help keep the formation of dental tartar to a minimum.

Regular dental visits that include a periodontal examination are important to detect any changes in the periodontal health and if necessary, to remove hardened tartar in places that your toothbrush and floss/Stimudents may have missed, or can not reach. A professional cleaning (often called a prophylaxis) at least twice a year is recommended for patients with good periodontal health. If you have had any form of the periodontal diseases, you may need professional maintenance more frequently.

Congratulations on taking the first step to achieving periodontal health! Preventing and /or controlling periodontal disease is a worthwhile commitment that will keep you smiling for life.

A word about periodontal diseases

The word “periodontal” literally means around the tooth. Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the gums and the supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth. Periodontal diseases can affect one tooth or many teeth. The main cause of periodontal diseases is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If the plaque is not removed, it can turn into a hard substance called calculus or tartar  in less than 2 days. Tartar is so hard it can only be removed by an oral health professional such as a dentist or dental hygienist. The bacteria in plaque infects the gums and releases poisons that cause redness and inflammation (irritation). The inflammation and the poisons themselves cause destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, including the bone. When this happens, the gums separate microscopically from the teeth, forming pockets that fill with even more plaque causing even more infection.