Hygiene Treatment Outline

When Cleanings Are Needed

Prophylaxis ("regular cleaning") - Routine preventive procedure involving removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from tooth surfaces in a healthy mouth. Fig. 1.

- Schedule every 6 months

- Many insurance plans cover this fee in full.

Debridement - Preliminary procedure involving removal of heavy deposits from tooth surfaces in the presence of gum disease. Fig. 2.

You may need the procedure if you have:

*Bleeding, tender gums

*Heavy calculus build up

*Not visited your dentist in over a year

- Many insurance plans cover a portion of this fee.

Scaling and Root Planing ("deep cleaning") - Non-surgical procedure involving removal of plaque, calculus, and necrotic tissue from root surfaces and pockets in the presence of periodontal disease.

Fig. 3.

You may need this procedure if you have:

* Bone loss with pocketing > 4mm and bleeding

* Heavy calculus below gumline

- Many insurance plans cover a portion of this fee.

Periodontal Maintenance - Routine maintenance procedure involving removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from crowns and root surfaces following scaling and root planing. Replaces "regular cleaning", prevents Fig. 4.

* Scheduled every 3 - 4 months

- Many insurance plans cover a portion of this fee

- Cristine H. Mobley, RDH