Hygiene Treatment

Prophy
Prophy, short for prophylaxis paste, is a gritty toothpaste-like material that is gently rubbed onto the tooth’s surface to polish it smooth, and is an important step in any dental hygiene visit.

Debridement
Debridement is the process of removing plaque and dental calculus buildup from the teeth and gums during a dental hygiene visit. We accomplish this by the use of an ultrasonic handpiece, that helps break up the plaque, as well as scaling.

Fine Scale
Removing plaque by means of a scaler, or scraper, is the foundation of good oral hygiene. It is important to remove plaque and calculus from your teeth so that proper healing can begin, and after you have undergone debridement, a fine scale will allow us to ensure that all of the plaque is gone.

Periodontal Maintenance
In certain cases, periodontal surgery may be recommended to treat periodontal disease when non-surgical treatment is ineffective. We may advise procedures such as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafts or bone regeneration to treat periodontal disease. If a tooth has been lost due to periodontal disease, dental implants are always an option for permanent tooth replacement.

Good oral hygiene and regular visits with your dentist and periodontist can prevent periodontal disease. Daily brushing and flossing can keep plaque to a minimum and, in conjunction with professional cleanings 2-4 times a year, can keep your teeth healthy for life.

Deep Cleanings
Deep cleanings is sometimes referred to as scaling and root planing. This process can be done above or below the gum line and involves the scraping and removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the tooth. Scaling done at regular teeth cleanings usually involves the crown of the tooth. However, in more extreme circumstances, it is necessary to go further below the gum line to thoroughly remove disease-causing bacteria and its by-products on the root surface. In very advanced cases, flap surgery or gingivectomy may be necessary to allow the doctor free access to the infected tooth root.

After the thorough cleaning of the tooth surface has been completed above and below the gum line, the root of the tooth undergoes a process called planing. This is a process of smoothing the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is removed. This also serves two other purposes: it clears away any rough areas that bacteria below the gum line thrive in, and it makes it much easier for the gingival (gum) tissue to re-attach itself to the tooth, effectively reducing the size of the pockets that the plaque and bacteria hide in. This re-growth of tissue is key in stopping a recurrence of gum disease and happens very quickly once the calculus has been removed.

Adult and Children Flouride
Fluoride is a substance that helps teeth become stronger and resistant to decay. Regularly drinking water treated with fluoride and brushing and flossing regularly ensures significantly lower cavities. Dentists can evaluate the level of fluoride in a primary drinking water source and recommend fluoride supplements (usually in tablets or drops), if necessary.

Home Care Instruction
Though regular visits to a dentist is necessary for good oral hygiene, nothing is as important as regular, day-to-day maintenance. Thusly, one of the most important services we can provide is helping and guiding your home care dental hygiene regimen, a service which we take seriously. If you have questions about dental hygiene techniques or habits, please feel free to ask us - we will gladly instruct and show you anything you’d like to know more about.

Desensitizer Treatment
Activities as simple as eating foods which are hot, cold, sweet or hard, etc. can mean misery for people who suffer from sensitive teeth. We offer professional desensitizing treatments, which may help bring relief from sensitive teeth. Schedule a consultation with us if you are interested in desensitizing treatment.

Irrigation
Scaling and root planing are in-depth procedures that, while complicated, allow a good opportunity for access to the roots of teeth. Irrigation takes advantage of this opportunity by introducing an antibiotic agent into the root of the tooth that can help remove and prevent further infection.

Periodontal Evaluation
Evaluating the condition of your gums is not only a good indicator of your dental health, but your general health as well. Recent studies have shown a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, which means that having healthy gums is a vital priority. We can fully evaluate your gums and soft tissues using a variety of methods, and provide you with a fast but thorough general diagnosis.