Dental Hygiene

Regular Dental Cleanings & Checkups

Maintaining oral hygiene goes beyond just brushing and flossing at home. To ensure optimal dental health and the longevity of any dental restoration work, it’s crucial to make regular appointments for professional dental cleanings.

The American Dental Association recommends that the average patient should have dental cleanings at least twice a year. However, this can vary depending on your specific oral health needs. Dr. Kenfield and her skilled team at Kenfield Dental Group might suggest more frequent cleanings – perhaps every 3 or 4 months – to thwart the onset of dental complications such as decay and periodontal disease.

What can I expect during my dental cleaning appointment?

During a dental cleaning appointment, a dental hygienist first examines your gums using a procedure known as periodontal probing depths. This assessment aids in determining whether you have gum disease or not. For patients without infection, the hygienist carries out a preventive cleaning, often called prophylaxis or “prophy”. This involves the use of ultrasonic instruments to eliminate plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth. After this, your teeth are polished with high-grade brushes to eradicate any residual staining. The session concludes with flossing and rinsing your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash. Sometimes, the dentist might also apply fluoride to preempt potential decay.

For patients diagnosed with gum disease, the cleaning process is a bit more extensive. In such cases, a simple prophylactic cleaning will not suffice to treat the gums and remove tartar below the gumline. The dentist would then recommend further periodontal therapy, which might include scaling and root planing – often referred to as “deep cleaning.”

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis, commonly recognized as gum inflammation, signifies the initial stage of periodontal disease. If not addressed promptly, it can progress to severely damage the bone tissue that supports the teeth.

Any patient who experiences bleeding during brushing or flossing should immediately schedule an appointment for a gum check. At Kenfield Dental Group, Dr. Kenfield will assess your oral health and, if necessary, recommend a suitable treatment plan if signs of gingivitis are present. It’s critical to note that gingivitis, when detected early, is both treatable and reversible.

Gingivitis Treatment Strategies

Numerous factors can contribute to gingivitis, but it’s primarily instigated by dental plaque accumulating along the gum line, leading to gum inflammation and subsequent bleeding.

The first line of defense against this inflammation involves professional dental cleanings and regular at-home care, including proper brushing and flossing techniques.

However, in some cases, this might not be enough, necessitating additional measures like the use of a dental laser and antimicrobial rinses to effectively eliminate all bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Prompt treatment is crucial in the early stages of the disease. If left untreated, gingivitis is prone to escalate into periodontal disease, resulting in irreversible harm to the periodontal tissues.

Recognizing the Signs of Gingivitis

The most noticeable and frequent symptom of gingivitis is bleeding gums. This typically happens during brushing or flossing but can also occur spontaneously. Another telltale sign is the persistence of bad breath or halitosis, which doesn’t improve even after brushing.

If you observe any gum bleeding, recurrent bad breath, or notice swollen or tender gums, it’s advisable to schedule an appointment at Kenfield Dental Group. Dr. Kenfield will thoroughly assess your oral health and suggest an appropriate treatment plan.

Periodontal Treatment: Dental Scaling and Root Planing

For patients diagnosed with periodontal disease, the preferred treatment is a deep cleaning procedure known as Scaling and Root Planing (SRP). This procedure thoroughly cleans and polishes the tooth roots, eradicating dental plaque and stubborn tartar deposits. Typically, SRP necessitates two or more appointments, with numbing often required to ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure.

In certain cases, additional measures like the application of a dental laser, antibiotic therapy, or medicinal rinses may be employed to remove bacteria from the roots and adjacent gum tissue effectively.

Addressing Advanced Stages of Periodontal Disease

The later stages of periodontal disease present significant challenges in management. By this point, a substantial amount of bone tissue around the tooth root is lost. If the disease progresses unchecked, the remaining option often involves extracting the tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.

Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. At Kenfield Dental Group, we recognize the gravity of gum disease, given that:

We urge our patients in Spencer, Indiana, and the neighboring communities to visit our dental office regularly and adopt a robust home care routine. These measures help manage the disease in its earlier stages, mitigating potential severe consequences.