The different types of cleanings at the Boutique

At Boutique we offer two different types of cleanings-a prophylaxis and a scaling and root planing cleaning (SRP). It is really important for you as a patient to understand the difference in these two types of cleanings because it will help you have a better understanding of your overall oral health.

Our most frequently completed type of cleaning is called a “prophy” or a prophylaxis cleaning. This type of cleaning is performed on patients who have healthy gums. Healthy gums are described as salmon pink in color, flat in appearance and do not bleed when probed, brushed or flossed. Prophys are usually completed two times per year and are considered preventive because they help prevent gum disease.

If you are in need of a deep cleaning, Mckenzie will preform a cleaning called a scaling and root planning (SRP). These patients will have bleeding and swollen gums, red gum tissue and probing depths that are greater than 5 millimeters and radiographic bone loss.

In order to determine which type of cleaning you will need, schedule an appointment with McKenzie and she will access your overall oral health.

Hi, guys. McKenzie here, the hygienist at the Boutique. The most frequently completed dental cleanings are regular cleanings or what we as hygienists call prophies or a deep cleaning or what we call scaling, root planing or SRP. It’s really important for you, the patient, to understand the difference in these two cleanings because that will help you have a better understanding of your overall oral health.

Regular cleanings are usually completed on patients who have healthy gums. So, healthy gums are usually described as salmon pink in color, flat in appearance, and do not bleed when probed, brushed or flossed. And these patients usually have probing depths or gum measurements between one and three millimeters. Prophies or regular cleanings are usually completed two times per year and are considered preventive in nature because they help prevent periodontal or gum disease. Additionally, a regular cleaning cleans all of the tissues above the gums and only about three millimeters below the gums.

However, when gum disease or periodontal disease is present, a prophy is no longer needed. After a diagnosis of periodontal disease, a scaling and root planing or a deep cleaning is now needed to control the disease rather than prevent it. Some common signs of periodontal disease include bleeding and swollen gums, bright red gum tissue, probing depths that are greater than five millimeters, and radiographic bone loss, which we can see on X-rays. X-rays also give us some insight into what type of deposits are underneath the gums. If calculus or tartar deposits are evident on X-rays, it is likely that a deep cleaning will be needed. For this reason, X-rays and a periodontal exam by a hygienist are necessary to determine what type of cleaning a patient will need.

If you’ve been experiencing bleeding gums, painful gums when brushing or flossing, or if it’s been longer than six months since your last dental cleaning, give our office a call and we’ll be happy to get you on the schedule.