Dental Cleanings in Santa Monica
Cleanings (Prophylaxis)
A "prophy" or prophylaxis cleaning is our standard cleaning.
A prophy helps to maintain current dental health and prevents the progression of gingivitis and periodontitis (more severe forms of gum disease). The American Dental Association recommends cleanings twice per year to maintain oral health. We also recommend a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best interval and type of cleaning for each individual.
At our office, your cleaning will be completed by a registered dental hygienist or sometimes, a dentist and assistant.
At this visit, you can expect that we will measure your gums every one year, including during the initial exam. We will compare these measurements to the x-rays and help you with the type of cleaning best suited to your periodontal condition.
Your dental cleaning visit will typically last about 40-70 minutes.
Scaling & Root Planing in Santa Monica, CA
Also referred to as a “deep cleaning”, scaling and root planing is required to treat active gum diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Periodontal disease can be diagnosed with a comprehensive oral evaluation.
The treatment involves cleaning thoroughly below the gum line to remove resilient tartar/calculus with the use of local anesthetic, ultrasonic instruments, and antimicrobials. By removing the source of chronic inflammation, promoting good home care, and re-evaluating every 3 to 4 months, we ensure that the gum disease is stabilized and does not reoccur.
You can expect your scaling to be completed in quadrants. A typical deep cleaning series would include two 2-hour visits for each left and right side. A 1-month re-evaluation and cleaning would be completed afterward to verify home care and progress towards better dental health!
This schedule has been shown to lower oral health risks like cavities, oral infections, gingivitis, and gum disease. If you already have gingivitis or gum disease, your dentist will customize your cleaning schedule to address the condition.
