Prophylaxis

“Prophylaxis” is the clinical term for dental cleanings, though the word has other meanings in healthcare. Prophylactic medicine refers to preventative medicines such as vaccines and anti-seizure medications while general “prophylactics” include preventative devices like condoms and birth control. These terms all come from the Greek verb, “phylax,” meaning “to guard.”

To guard your teeth against disease, dentists perform a prophylaxis 1-2 times a year. The service typically includes 5 steps:

1. Dental exam: The dentist will examine your mouth for signs of gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and other issues.
2. X-rays: X-rays will help the dentist spot hidden areas of tooth decay.
3. Cleaning: A hygienist will clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup. This often includes scaling, where the hygienist uses a metal tool to scrape the teeth down to the gumline to remove buildup.
4. Flossing and polishing: The hygienist will conclude the cleaning by flossing your teeth and polishing the hard surface with a stain-removing material.
5. Fluoride: Though optional, many patients pay for a fluoride treatment at the end of the prophylaxis to further protect their teeth from decay until their next visit.

This preventative dental medicine reduces the need for further dental appointments by lowering the patient’s risk for cavities, gingivitis, and other oral health issues. This is especially true for children, who often fail to maintain efficient oral healthcare routines on their own.

Technically, there are four types of prophylaxis:

1. Primary prophylaxis, which prevents a disease
2. Secondary prophylaxis, which prevents a disease from recurring
3. Tertiary prophylaxis, which reduces the symptoms of a chronic disease
4. Quaternary prophylaxis, which shifts disease treatment away from methods that do not work after the first few treatments

The dental cleanings that most patients receive fall under primary prophylaxis, but the team may accelerate your preventative treatment to disease management if you suffer from chronic oral diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis, or severe tooth decay.

Speak with our team about the type of prophylaxis that makes sense in your situation. Make sure you don’t miss your twice-annual dental checkups, which are designed to monitor and manage your oral health before treatment becomes necessary.

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