Hello Dental Family!

Prophylaxis (Regular Cleaning)

A regular cleaning is recommended for patients who have healthy gums, and do not have bone loss, or infection/inflammation in the gums around their teeth. All of which are indicators of periodontal disease. There should be no bleeding, looseness of the teeth, receding gums and bone, or areas where roots of the teeth are exposed. The patient’s mouth should be healthy with no bone or gum problems. A regular cleaning, or prophylaxis removes soft plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth above the gum line, and only slightly below. A regular cleaning is usually done two times a year or every 6 months. This regular cleaning is considered a preventive procedure by insurance carriers. 

Periodontal Maintenance

When a patient has periodontal disease that has resulted from gum infection and inflammation, bone loss, gum “pockets” deeper than 4 millimeters, bleeding gums, exposed root surfaces, or if the patient has had scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) or periodontal surgery to treat periodontal disease, a regular cleaning is not the appropriate treatment. Periodontal maintenance is needed to maintain gum and bone health. This procedure includes removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line along the root of each tooth to where the gum, root, and bone meet. Gum pocket depths are carefully monitored. The tartar on the roots of the teeth are removed if needed. Inflamed and infected pockets may be irrigated with antibacterial medicines and/or localized antibiotics are placed if necessary.

Periodontal maintenance is considered a basic service by insurance carriers. So the patient may be subjected to a yearly deductible and a percentage of the procedure may be paid.