Prophylaxis

When we visit the dentist for our 6-month dental check-up one of the procedures performed is a prophylaxis. When scheduling the appointment you might hear the receptionist refer to this as a “prophy” or a “normal cleaning.” A prophylaxis is a preventative measure against the build up of dental plaque that can gradually buildup and become tartar putting the patient at risk for dental disease. This procedure is commonly performed by the dental hygienist. 

Procedure:

This procedure is commonly performed by the dental hygienist. The first step in the procedure is using the explorer and oral mirror to identify tartar build-up. Then, the dental hygienist will use either a Cavitron, a vibrating ultrasonic scaler, or a hand-held scaler to scrape tartar, hardened plaque, from the surfaces of the teeth. The prophylaxis ends with polishing the teeth which helps to remove any surface stains and plaque. This is done with a prophy angle and paste.

Written by: Annie La