What is Dental Prophylaxis?

 

Dental prophylaxis is the medical term for dental procedures that help promote and maintain good oral health. Proactive treatments go a long way to prevent tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and more severe oral health problems. Dental prophylaxis might also go beyond a procedure and include the administration of antibiotics to prevent infection. Proactive dental care is especially important for children, who are more vulnerable to dental problems. Below is a list of simple and common oral health procedures that fall under the umbrella of dental prophylaxis.

 

Routine Oral Examinations

 

Many patients consider a routine dental examination to be the overall umbrella, which then includes various complementary procedures. The dental industry strongly recommends in-home daily oral hygiene care that includes brushing your teeth twice for two minutes each time and daily flossing. This simple at-home routine goes a long way in the daily removal of damaging plaque. Every day, with daily eating and drinking, plaque forms constantly for all of us. Consistent daily oral hygiene practice will help to keep the plaque in check. It is also recommended that you visit your dentist twice yearly for a routine oral exam. Even with good oral hygiene, there is always plaque buildup that is missed, especially between the teeth. Other issues, like cavities, may be developing and can be addressed before they become a severe problem. During the oral exam, the soft tissue of your gums is examined for signs of gum disease, and X-rays are taken to document the health of your teeth below the gumline. The oral exam will conclude with a professional cleaning. All these routine procedures are twice as important for young children.

 

X-rays

 

X-rays play an important role in providing your dentist with the information to identify the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbones below the gumline. X-rays show cavities, abscesses on roots, cracks in your teeth, the condition of the bony area around your teeth, and they show the development of teeth, which might include impacted wisdom teeth. X-rays are quick, extremely safe, pain-free, and an integral part of your oral health exam.

 

Dental Cleaning

 

The professional dental cleaning procedure is arguably the most important form of dental prophylaxis. Using a hand tool called a scaler or an ultrasonic cleaner, the professional hygienist removes all plaque and tartar that has accumulated on the teeth. Once the tops of the teeth are clean, they finish this procedure with thorough flossing and polishing.

 

Deep Scaling and Root Planing

 

If the plaque has descended further down the tooth and is below the gumline, it might need to be removed using a deep scaling or root planing procedure. If gum disease has started to develop, scaling and root planing are essential to both stop and prevent the further spread of the disease and reduce the advance of the infection further into the gum tissue.

 

Fluoride Treatments or Sealants

 

Especially for children, the addition of a dental sealant has been proven to help prevent cavities and decay. At all ages, fluoride treatments will also help prevent tooth decay.

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