What Happens at a Routine Dental Visit

Dr. Hoyt and all of the staff at Fort Worth Dental Arts strive to serve our patients’ dental needs. As part of the comprehensive treatment we offer at our Fort Worth dental practice, we offer two types of cleanings; preventive “prophylaxis” cleanings, as well as therapeutic “scaling and root planing” cleanings.  We also offer various laser treatments to reduce bacteria and to improve the cosmetic appearance of the gums.

We typically see our patients with healthy gum tissue every six months for a check-up with the dentist and cleaning. At the check-up, the hygienist will perform a preventive cleaning, called a “Prophy”, which involves cleaning off calculus (the hard calcium deposits that naturally accumulate over time) above the gum line to keep your smile healthy. Dr. Hoyt will check the teeth for cavities and perform an Oral Cancer Screening at this appointment as well.

When there is inflammation and infection with the gums, Dr. Hoyt and your hygienist evaluate the tissue for Periodontal Disease, which is a chronic infection with the gum, ligament, and bone tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth. There are many factors that contribute to Periodontal Disease, including but not limited to insufficient home care, calculus build-up under the gums, smoking, poor nutrition, genetic susceptibility, and Type I and II Diabetes.

Depending on the severity of the infection within the tissue, a deep Scaling and Root Planing may be recommended by Dr. Hoyt. Scaling and Root Planing (also known as “SRP”) is the first line of defense against Periodontal Disease. This treats the most common contributor to Periodontal Disease, which is calculus build up. When calculus builds up under the gum line, it acts like a splinter in your finger… it is an irritant! Calculus build up makes the gums sensitive to touch, bleed easily, and over time causes the gums, ligament, and bone tissue to pull away from the side of the tooth.

During the SRP, your hygienist will remove all of the calculus build up above and below the gum line, including any build up that may be clinging to your root surface, preventing your tissue from being able to adhere to the tooth. After cleaning all of the calculus, your hygienist will perform a procedure called Laser Bacterial Reduction, which is a pain-free procedure that effectively reduces the bacterial that caused the periodontal infection around the teeth. Your hygienist will also talk to you about other factors that may be contributing to the infection and discuss things that you can do at home to keep your tissue healthy. After your SRP, it is very important to maintain a frequent cleaning schedule to maintain your gums and keep them from deteriorating back to where they were. Luckily, an SRP can usually treat Periodontal Disease with good success rates, and the tissue can be maintained with the help of your hygienist and with good care at home.