Dental Cleanings

A basic cleaning (dental prophylaxis) is performed every 6 months on patients with healthy teeth and gums to prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar deposits. If you have missed several dental cleanings, it is possible that you may need more extensive cleaning that may include the use of ultrasonic scalers beneath the gum line. Over time, buildup on your teeth causes your gums to become irritated, inflamed, and infected with bacteria, resulting in gum disease (periodontitis). Chronic, untreated bacterial gum disease can result in bleeding, red/swollen gums, bad breath, gum recession, bone loss around the teeth, and eventual mobility and loss of teeth.

Periodontitis affects about half of all American adults and is the number one cause of tooth loss. It is a “silent” disease because rarely do people feel any symptoms until it has progressed severely. Bone loss around the teeth due to gum disease is, unfortunately, irreversible. At Autumn Family Dentistry, we therefore encourage early intervention, and we offer surgical and non-surgical treatments for gum disease.