Cleaning and Periodontal Therapy in Chicago IL

Being able to restore your teeth with fillings, crowns and the like means nothing if we can’t keep them and the surrounding tissue healthy.

That’s why the dental hygiene therapy – known as prophylaxis in industry terms – we provide our patients is so critical to your oral health, not to mention your overall well-being.

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What Is Dental Hygiene Therapy?

Regular dental cleaning, also known as dental prophylaxis, helps in removing plaque, bacteria, and extrinsic stains from your teeth. It is done by a qualified dental hygienist.

This cleaning is usually not done under the gums (sub-gingival) as it is not typically necessary for healthy patients. For most healthy patients we recommend getting a regular cleaning every six months. During these visits, your dentist will also perform an oral examination to assess the health of your teeth, gums, and the surrounding tissue. We may also take x-rays if needed. These visits usually last around an hour.

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What Is Periodontal Therapy?

The umbrella of periodontal disease includes conditions where the gums become infected by harmful bacteria within the mouth. They can be caused by a variety of factors such as poor oral hygiene, systemic diseases, genetics, and even pregnancy. The disease can vary in severity, ranging from a mild case of gingivitis, to inflamed gums with no permanent damage, to severe cases of periodontitis with significant bone loss, loss of gum attachment, or tooth loss due to the active infection. Sometimes, regular prophylaxis may not be enough to treat periodontal disease.

For patients who fall into the gingivitis category and have yet to develop more significant periodontal disease, we recommend gingival scaling. This patient exhibits all the signs of moderate to severe gingivitis: bleeding gums, inflammation, moderate to heavy plaque – but no visible bone loss or major loss of gum attachment.

So what exactly does that entail? Gingival scaling removes tartar and bacteria above and a little below the gum line using hand-held instruments along with ultrasonic scalers. We then ask you to come back sooner than normal (usually 3-4 months) so our hygienists can diagnose your overall gum health and determine how well the scaling worked. Usually after this treatment, if your homecare has improved, the gingivitis is reversed and traditional dental cleanings can be performed going forward. If no changes are made and the gingivitis does not resolve we will recommend shorter periodontal recall visits, or potentially progress to more intensive treatment.

If you have progressed into mild or moderate periodontal disease, we will likely recommend 2-4 visits of active deep teeth cleaning therapy. Our hygienists will treat each quadrant of your mouth (upper left, lower right, etc.) separately. In these visits, any dental plaque, calculus and associated bacteria will be removed both above and below the gum line. A dental laser will also be utilized. During and after this deep teeth cleaning therapy, you’ll be given an antibiotic mouth rinse to use twice daily and detailed oral hygiene home care instructions. At each visit, your hygienist will also recheck and quickly sweep through the previously treated quadrants.

In serious instances of periodontal disease we may refer you to our periodontist Dr. Drucker for further evaluation and treatment. Our goal is to keep you in the best oral health possible, and we utilize many tools to do so. Has it been a while since your last cleaning? Call our office or book online today!

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Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning with Strobel Dentistry in Chicago IL

Ready for a fresher smile? We’re here to make each visit comfortable, informative, and effective. Whether it’s your first cleaning or part of your routine, our team is dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain optimal dental health. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!