Oral Hygiene – professional teeth cleaning – periodontal treatment

Professional tooth cleaning is a key component of dental prophylaxis. This special form of tooth cleaning is a necessary addition to the patient’s conscientious daily tooth cleaning. Deposits and bacterial accumulations (plaque) on hard-to-reach tooth surfaces require additional professional tooth cleaning by your dentist. Oral hygiene is an intensive cleaning with special instruments with the aim of removing all pathogenic or cosmetically disturbing deposits from the tooth surface. In this way, tooth damage (dental caries) and gum inflammation (gingivitis) up to bone loss (periodontitis) can be effectively prevented and the appearance of the teeth can be improved at the same time!

Preventative care through regular oral hygiene with your dentist is recommended by dental scientific societies: professional cleaning should be carried out every six to twelve months. If the teeth are actively carious or there is previous periodontal damage, it should be carried out every three to six months. Professional teeth cleaning is carried out by a dentist or specially trained dental hygienist.

At the beginning of oral hygiene there is a thorough examination of the oral cavity and the dental system by the dentist. In particular the oral hygiene situation, as well as any existing plaque and bleeding in the gums are recorded. A trained dental assistant then removes the plaque. Using sound vibrations, powder-water spray (brown discolored areas – for example due to smoking, coffee or tea) as well as the use of hand instruments, a gentle removal of plaque is achieved from the tooth surfaces and the accessible tooth root surfaces as well as in the spaces between the teeth. Protruding crowns or fillings eventually require removal and polishing. The deposits are, so to speak, blasted away with an air-water-salt mixture. The assistant cleans gaps with dental floss and small brushes. She then polishes the teeth so that they have a smooth surface again.

The result is shiny and smooth tooth surfaces, which also makes it more difficult for new plaque to form. Finally, applying fluoride-containing gels or varnishes creates an additional protective film on the teeth. Finally, the oral hygienist gives tips on proper oral hygiene and important information on how to optimize your teeth cleaning at home. This includes the correct use of the toothbrush, the use of dental floss and interdental brushes, and possibly the home use of tongue cleaner and of fluoride.

Children and young people aged 10 to 18 can benefit from professional oral hygiene once per year as a health insurance benefit. For children and young people with fixed braces, it is even possible to have two oral hygiene sessions   (every 6 month) per year.