Gums (gingiva) and jaw bone (alveolar bone) are the foundation of teeth and your dental health. Regular dental cleaning in Washington, DC is important to maintaining optimal health of these structures. What is done at your hygiene visit depends on your current periodontal health:

Healthy gums with no bone loss: Your hygiene visit will involve an oral cancer screening, dental examination including necessary x-rays and a prophy – a cleaning concentrating at the areas above the gums. We recommend a healthy periodontal patient be seen twice a year.

Gingivitis with no bone loss: Your hygiene visit will involve all of the above as well as a scaling under the inflamed gums. The concentration of this type of visit is on removing plaque and tarter from below the gums. We recommend a second follow up visit a few weeks after the first visit for a prophy before moving onto a more routine twice a year regimen.

Bone loss (Periodontitis): Your hygiene visit will involve all of the above as well as a scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is the process of removing plaque and calculus from areas where bone has been lost with the aim of stopping the progression of bone loss.  Scaling and root planing is typically done in two separate visits (one for the right side and one for the left) using anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Periodontal patients should be seen 3 or 4 times per year.