Teeth Cleaning in Gainesville, FL

Also called professional teeth cleaning, dental prophylaxis is a treatment for the prevention of periodontal diseases or other dental diseases by the cleaning of the teeth in the dental office using the procedures of DENTAL SCALING and DENTAL POLISHING. The treatment may include plaque detection, removal of supra- and subgingival plaque and calculus, application of caries-preventing agents, checking of restorations and prostheses and correcting overhanging margins and proximal contours of restorations, and checking for signs of food impaction.

Dental plaque (a.k.a tooth plaque) is the sticky film that clings to the teeth in your jaw, and it contains oral bacteria that can irritate and inflame the gum tissues if not removed on a regular basis with proper flossing and brushing. Plaque that is left behind will eventually harden into a calcified substance called tartar. When tartar forms along the gumline, it can break the strong bond the gum tissues have to the teeth, leading to infection and a breakdown of the gums and bone that hold the teeth firmly in place.

Professional teeth cleaning is recommended every six months for patients who have healthy teeth and gums. Patients who show the early signs of gum disease (gingivitis), as well as those in the more advanced stages of periodontitis, may need to undergo cleanings at our Gainesville, Florida dental office more frequently than this to ensure that the condition does not progress any further.

The primary goal of teeth cleaning is to remove the plaque and tartar, also known as dental calculus that lead to periodontal disease (gingivitis).