Dental Exam and Professional Teeth Cleaning

At our office, we perform Ultrasonic Cleanings of your teeth that is a way better alternative than the traditional scaling using hand instruments. The ultrasonic device cleans your teeth so well that your teeth will feel cleaner and fresher than traditional teeth cleaning.

Your oral health has implications for your overall well-being. Not only does advanced gum disease lead to tooth loss, but research has also linked gum disease to other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Professional dental cleanings are an essential component of preventing gum disease, but there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Different patients may require different cleaning procedures, depending on the state of their oral health.

Brushing and flossing twice a day is crucial, but even if you practice excellent oral hygiene, plaque buildup is still inevitable. If it’s not removed regularly, it can eventually harden into unsightly tartar, or cause gum infections. For patients with healthy teeth and gums, regular teeth cleanings – or prophylaxis – is sufficient to remove plaque and prevent inflammation.

During regular cleanings, our Dentist, Dr. Fidanoski will use an ultrasonic device to shake plaque loose and a small handheld instrument called a scaler to scrape tartar from your teeth. Prophylaxis is a procedure that takes place on your teeth, above the gumline, and most people with good oral health can maintain their smile with twice-yearly prophylactic cleanings.

For almost half of the dental patients in the United States, regular prophylaxis isn’t enough to maintain optimal oral health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47% of American adults aged 30 and over have some form of periodontal disease, a gum infection that can damage the tissue and bone that supports your teeth. The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis, which causes red, swollen gums that bleed easily. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, resulting in severe deterioration of the gums and bone, and with time, tooth loss.

Fortunately, there is a proven way to help reverse the effects of mild to moderate gum disease. A 1981 study conducted at the University of Michigan found that scaling and root planing, also known as deep cleaning, was effective in treating patients with mild to moderate gum disease.

During scaling, Dr. Fidanoski will remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth, both above and below your gumline, using handheld instruments, ultrasonic instruments, or a combination of both. Once your teeth are cleaned via scaling, Dr. Fidanoski will then perform root planing to smooth out the roots of your teeth. This two-step process creates a better environment for your gums to reattach back to your teeth, effectively closing any loose pockets.

After you’ve undergone a deep cleaning or periodontal surgery you’ll need to keep regular periodontal maintenance visits to maintain your gums and prevent the recurrence of gum disease. A 1984 study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showed that harmful, disease-causing bacteria recolonizes underneath the gums as early as one to two months after a deep cleaning. This is why those with a past history of gum disease should return for periodontal maintenance approximately every three or four months.

During a periodontal maintenance visit, your pocket depths are measured and your periodontal status is reassessed. While standard prophylaxis cleans the crowns of your teeth above your gumline, periodontal maintenance goes a little deeper, slightly below the gumline, since you are more susceptible to plaque and tartar buildup based on your past history of gum disease.

To ensure optimal oral health, and preserve the integrity of your teeth and gums, patients should visit the dentist every three to four months for periodontal maintenance. 

At our Dental Practice, Fidanoski Dentistry, we offer a periodontal maintenance program that is customized to fit the needs of each individual patient. Dr. Fidanoski will evaluate your dental history and the overall state of your teeth and gums, and prepare a treatment plan to optimize your oral health. For questions on our periodontal maintenance program or your dental health in general, please call our Dental Practice, Fidanoski Dentistry at (770) 338-3389.

Many people know that untreated gum disease leads to tooth and gum tissue loss, but did you know it can also cause bone loss in your jaw? Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. Poor oral hygiene allows bacteria living in the dental plaque to thrive, causing inflammation and tenderness in gums. During this first stage of gum disease called gingivitis, gums swell slightly and bleed easily.

The most severe form of gum disease is periodontitis. It develops when bacteria and the toxins produced by the plaque bacteria infect the gums, invade below the gum line, and infect tissue beneath the teeth. At this late stage, the infection breaks down the bone and tissues that keep teeth in place. If left untreated, the destruction continues until the teeth become loose from lack of support and eventually fall out. Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.

Symptoms of Gum Disease:

• Persistent bad breath
• Swollen or bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Mouth pain when chewing