What is professional dental cleaning?
Professional tooth cleaning, PZR for short, is a particularly thorough form of cleaning teeth and interdental spaces in several steps. The duration of this prophylaxis session depends on the amount of plaque and discoloration to be removed, but usually 30 to 60 minutes are sufficient.
During this prophylaxis appointment in the dental practice, special procedures are also used to clean the interdental spaces and the area behind the last molars, which are difficult to access in everyday life.
The professional dental cleaning consists of:
- Removal of dental plaque both on the enamel and on any exposed roots.
- thorough cleaning of the interdental spaces
- Polishing of tooth surfaces
- Fluoridation of teeth for lasting protection against caries
- Professional tips for oral hygiene at home
PZR: Care and Medical Prophylaxis in One
Those who regularly consume coffee, tea, cigarettes, red wine or the like will usually find it difficult to remove the accumulated deposits with daily oral hygiene. However, professional dental cleaning carried out by specially trained staff in the practice can provide a reliable remedy.
Plaque can, under certain conditions, develop into gum inflammation (gingivitis). Such gum inflammation can be stopped by thorough brushing. If, on the other hand, the acid-forming bacteria multiply and store minerals in it, causing tartar to form, the harmless inflammation can turn into periodontitis. This in turn must be urgently treated by a dentist if the periodontium is not to be endangered.
The Professional Dental Cleaning Procedure
A PZR consists of several steps which, in combination, keep the teeth, the interdental spaces and thus also the gums healthy. In detail, these are the following measures.
PZR procedure: Colouring dental plaque
PZR usually begins with a so-called colouring of the teeth by the dental hygienist: using a special staining agent, the dental hygienist can see which teeth have plaque on them – the harmful plaque. This step is also a kind of inventory of your individual oral hygiene. This step is particularly practical for you, because by making the plaque visible you can see where you should be even more careful when brushing your teeth in order to avoid plaque even better in the future.
PZR procedure: Removing tartar
One of the central concerns of prophylaxis is the thorough cleaning of teeth, possibly existing fillings and crown margins as well as all accessible surfaces of tooth roots carried out by qualified personnel. Both hard and soft plaque are removed, for example discolourations caused by nicotine and/or red wine, coffee, tea, etc. The teeth are cleaned thoroughly and the tooth is then cleaned thoroughly.
The hard plaque is better known under the term tartar: It is a calcified plaque that remains over a longer period of time. If tartar is not removed, bacteria can accumulate and multiply on the tartar over time and thus promote inflammation of the gums, which in turn can lead to dangerous periodontitis.
Tartar cannot be removed independently with a toothbrush – while the PZR removes it reliably in the entire oral cavity.
PZR procedure: Airflow cleaning
Because special instruments are used for a PZR, it is also possible to clean and care for hard-to-reach areas where the harmful plaque can otherwise accumulate: for example above the gum line, in the so-called gum pockets and behind the last molars.
The soft discolorations, which are mainly caused by food and stimulants, are often removed with special powder jet equipment. One possible application is the so-called airflow method. This and other powder blasting devices can remove discolourations from the teeth at difficult angles with a mixture of water, air and special salts applied under high pressure. In the case of exposed tooth necks, however, this process should be avoided.
PZR drain: clean and dry with air and water
Even stubborn discolorations can be removed with the help of regular professional tooth cleaning. Once the cleaning of soft and hard plaque on surfaces and hard-to-reach areas has been completed, the entire cleaned oral cavity is rinsed with water and then dried with a light blower.
Procedure of the PZR: Politur
After the removal of plaque and discoloration, the tooth surfaces are thoroughly polished. This polishing prevents the growth of new plaque, because the smoother the surface, the poorer the adhesion.
Not only the teeth can be smoothed, but also, for example, the transitions of fillings, so that they are not affected by harmful plaque in the period up to the next PZR.
PZR sequence: Fluoridization
Fluoridation is also an important part of the final stage of any PZR because the fluoride applied to the teeth prevents the loss of minerals from the enamel. This makes the enamel more resistant to acids, making caries less likely.
Summary – Professional dental cleaning procedure:
- Removal of tartar and dark stains from coffee, tea, red wine and nicotine
- Plaque removal
- Polishing of the tooth surfaces including the interdental spaces
- Prophylaxis against caries using fluoride
- Tips and exercises from professionals to improve oral hygiene at home
How often is prophylaxis with professional tooth cleaning necessary?
In general, a PZR can be scheduled with any medical check-up that should take place twice a year. In this way not only discolorations but also pathogens for possible diseases of the teeth or gums can be eliminated at an early stage.
How often a follow-up treatment should be planned – for example in the case of previous gum diseases – varies from patient to patient – however, as a rule it is an interval of three months to six months.
Especially if long-term success is to be ensured following periodontitis therapy, several follow-up appointments per year are advantageous in order to prevent tartar formation in the gum pockets at an early stage. Otherwise, the acid-forming germs in the harmful plaque can multiply to such an extent that a new inflammation develops.
Summary: When is professional dental cleaning necessary?
- When gum inflammation needs to be treated
- When tooth discoloration should be removed
- If bad breath has developed
- When gum treatment is recommended to prevent periodontitis
- If regular aftercare is necessary after periodontitis or other diseases of the teeth and/or oral cavity
What does a professional dental cleaning cost?
The costs for a PZR are different because they are calculated by the dentists themselves. Usually the price is between 60 and 120 Euro.
As a rule, the costs are not covered by the health insurance if they are purely cosmetic prophylaxis. However, depending on the health insurance – and private supplementary insurance – a subsidy can be paid.