Dental Cleanings
A dental cleaning is referred to as a prophylaxis. A dental prophylaxis removes soft plaque and hard calculus that are located at or above the gumline. A prophylaxis is given to a patient who has healthy gum tissue and is intended to prevent periodontal disease. A prophylaxis can be given to a child or an adult.
Periodontal Disease/Gum Disease
If a patient has periodontal problems, a prophylaxis may not be indicated to effectively clean the patient’s teeth and gums. For these patients, further periodontal treatment may be necessary.