Dental Cleanings at NorthShore

NorthShore recommends dental cleanings be completed at least twice a year. Depending on your oral condition, your dental hygienist may suggest more frequent recalls than every 6 months.

Before your first dental cleaning with NorthShore, one of the hygienists will perform perio charting to help identify the periodontal disease and determine the appropriate type of cleaning each patient needs. During this procedure, the hygienist will use a rounded ruler, called a periodontal probe, to measure the natural space between our teeth and gums. These measurements will then be updated on a yearly basis to help identify any changes that may occur in the health of the gums or supporting bone structure.

Cleanings may vary from a traditional, routine cleaning called prophylaxis, to a “deep cleaning” called scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is needed when periodontal disease is present. Appropriate treatment helps to arrest disease to prevent further bone loss and possible tooth loss due to the progression of periodontal disease.