Dental care is often delayed due to other responsibilities. This is not unusual, but should be avoided. And if you haven’t had your teeth professionally cleaned in many years, plaque and tartar may have built up significantly.
When this happens, it can be difficult for a dentist to examine the hard and soft tissues of your mouth. This can affect their ability to fully assess the health of the teeth. In this case, a full mouth cleaning may be recommended.
A full mouth cleaning (FMD) is a non-surgical procedure performed by a dentist or dental specialist such as a periodontist. Foot and mouth care helps remove extensive plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and under the gums.
Read on to learn more about the full mouth cleaning process as well as the differences between FMD and other dental procedures you may need.
A thorough mouth cleaning is a first step towards treating severe plaque build-up or periodontal disease. It is done in the dentist’s office and usually takes longer to do than a standard teeth cleaning.
Dental plaque is a sticky, smooth substance that forms on your teeth every day. When plaque is not removed daily, it can harden and turn into stone. You may hear your dentist refer to calculus as calculus.
The hardened stone creates a surface where the plaque can stick. This can create cavities and gingivitis (gum disease). Gum disease can cause infections in the gums, ligaments and bones of your mouth, called periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease has serious consequences for dental health and can sometimes lead to cardiovascular disease,
It is important for your dentist to easily diagnose gingivitis and periodontal disease. Excessive plaque and tartar build-up makes it difficult for your dentist to adequately examine your teeth and gums.
If you have periodontitis, your gums are inflamed and you probably have periodontal pockets under your gum line. These are the spaces between your teeth and gums where plaque and bacteria can take up residence.
Since periodontal pockets cannot be cleaned easily, your dentist may recommend a more invasive procedure called scaling and root planing or
According to American Dental Associationscaling and root planing can be done under local anesthesia.
Scaling is similar to full mouth scaling and removes tartar from the teeth, but goes deeper under the gums. Root planing refers to the smoothing of the root of a tooth.
Root planing can be done on your entire mouth or on specific areas to help the gum tissue reattach to the teeth. This closes the small periodontal pockets and eliminates areas where bacteria can grow and thrive.
After the procedure is complete, antibiotics or antibacterial gel can be placed directly into the pockets to ensure they remain germ-free.
Here is the standard procedure for a full mouth cleaning:
- Your dentist may numb areas of your mouth with a local anesthetic. This will be determined by the extent of tartar buildup below the gum line as well as your personal level of sensitivity.
- Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar on and around your teeth with hand tools or with an ultrasound device that uses vibrations and water to clean the teeth.
- Your dentist may also polish your teeth or recommend additional treatments for more cleaning.
Before an FMD, your teeth may look yellow and discolored. They may also look long if your gums have moved away from your teeth. Your gums may appear white and may bleed when you brush and floss.
After FMD, you may feel some irritation and tenderness. Once it’s gone, you should notice pink, healthy gums and brighter teeth that fit comfortably in their sockets.
A full mouth removal usually takes about an hour to do. In some cases, this procedure may be split into multiple appointments, scheduled 1 to 2 weeks apart.
A second FMD is referred to as a prophylaxis procedure. During a preventive procedure, additional plaque and tartar cleaning will be done and your teeth may be polished.
A follow-up appointment is always needed after a full mouth cleaning so that your dentist can fully examine your mouth. X-rays will be taken to detect cavities and to assess damage to the teeth and below the gum line.
This appointment is to determine if your mouth is now healthy. Your dentist may recommend practicing good dental hygiene at home and returning for six-monthly dental cleanings.
Your dentist may also recommend a scaling and root planing procedure to further clean your gums and teeth. You may also need a more invasive surgery called flap surgery to close large periodontal pockets.
If you have teeth that cannot be saved, a tooth extraction may be scheduled.
Practicing good oral hygiene can help you avoid the need for extensive dental procedures, including full mouth cleanings.
A full mouth cleaning is a dental procedure done to thoroughly remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums. You may need this procedure if you have not seen a dentist for several years.
Practicing good oral hygiene can help you avoid foot and mouth disease or other extensive dental treatments.
