Prophylaxis vs Periodontal Maintenance
There is a difference between a “regular cleaning” and a periodontal maintenance visit. A regular cleaning (or prophylaxis, in dental terms) is defined as prevention of disease, and is the removal of plaque, calculus and stain. This is done with instruments that remove the deposits by an electric device called an ultra-sonic, or sonic scaler and hand instruments. Calculus is also known as tartar, and is a hard, mineralized deposit. Plaque is a soft, sticky substance that forms on teeth which is composed of bacteria and bacterial by-products.
A regular cleaning is recommended for persons who do not have any bone loss, periodontal disease, or infection around their teeth. There should also be no bleeding, mobility of teeth, or receded areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacteria that cannot be cured, but can be controlled. If you have periodontal disease, you may require root planing to remove diseased deposits and bacteria from below your gum line.
Periodontal disease needs to be closely monitored and controlled, or it can quickly get worse, destroying your bone and gums, eventually causing tooth loss. With this said, after the disease process is under control, a regular cleaning is not enough. Instead, you will have an on-going procedure known as periodontal maintenance to keep your mouth healthy. As this is a treatment and not a preventive service, your insurance will cover this as a basic service. Most periodontal patients see their hygienist at three month intervals to keep this chronic condition under control. Remember that insurance plans limit the number of treatments that they will pay for; however, it was never designed to pay for everything. Most plans pay minimally regardless of what you might need as an individual. Your visits should be designed by your doctor and your hygienist for your best benefit and not regulated by the insurance company.