Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsServicesDental Prophylaxis for KidsEffectivenessCostPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Services
Dental Prophylaxis for Kids
Effectiveness
Cost
Prevention
Dentalprophylaxismost commonly refers to cleaning, but it may include other prophylactic (preventative) procedures such as an exam or checkup. It refers to dental care to protect your teeth and prevent gum disease.
It includes a full examination of your mouth and teeth and a thorough cleaning using an ultrasonic scaler, pick, or other tools to remove tartar, plaque, and calcifications. The teeth are then polished, and afluoridetreatment or dental sealant is applied.
In addition to the above, X-rays may be taken if a cavity is suspected or it has been a while since you had images taken.
This article discusses dental prophylaxis and preventive oral care. It provides a detailed explanation of different types of dental prophylaxis and what to expect the next time you see your dentist for a check-up.
Verywell / JR Bee
Dental Prophylaxis Services
Dental services that are considered prophylactic (or preventative) include:
Each service provides a different function for your teeth.
Pitfalls From Skipping Your Yearly Dental Cleanings
Children have unique needs when it comes todental care. They are extremely vulnerable to decay and other dental problems. One review published in the journalPediatricssays, “Poor oral health is one of the most common health conditions of childhood in the United States.”
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that kids have their first dental examination and prophylactic treatment at 12 months of age.
Pediatric dentists specialize in helping children who experience fear and anxiety related to dental visits. The primary goal of early intervention of prophylaxis for young children is to get them accustomed to seeing the dentist early on.
This way, the dentist can administer preventative procedures when needed—such as sealants and fluoride treatments—to preventtooth decaydown the road.
Effectiveness of Prophylaxis Services
There are many recommendations about dental prophylactic measures, including how often each procedure should be done. How effective are these recommendations? Do they really help prevent tooth decay andgum disease? What does the scientific research say?
Do Regular Dentist Visits Prevent Problems?
A review of 36,000 kids from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), found preventative visits were linked with fewer dental appointments for fillings and other restorative care in the future.
Contrary to many dentists’ recommendations, however, the study authors reported that it was not actually cost-effective for children to see the dentist twice each year.
However, it could be that kids who visit the dentist regularly don’t have dental issues later on or that children who get sealants may be protected against other dental issues that would require more dentist visits.
Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?
Dental X-raysare a standard procedure at most annual dental prophylactic appointments. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), not everyone needs to get yearly X-rays, especially those who have no apparent dental problems.
The ADA reports that adults who brush properly and take good care of their teeth (and have no cavities or gum/oral conditions) only need X-rays every two to three years.
Although the ADA clearly states that annual bitewing X-rays are not necessary for everyone, most dentists still perform them yearly.
Do You Need a Yearly Dental Prophylaxis (Cleaning)?
Yearly cleanings may not always be necessary. A Cochrane Collaboration review of studies that measured the impact of routine dental cleaning intervals of six or twelve months found a small reduction of tartar and plaque with routine cleanings compared to no routine scaling and polishing, though the benefit is uncertain.
One potential harm from dental scaling is called periprosthetic joint infection resulting from bacteremia (bacteria in the blood). This occurs as a result of the agitation of the gums, causing bacteria to travel from the mouth into the bloodstream.
Treating dental patients with antibiotics before dental cleaning and/or restorative procedures is a preventative measure that can be used for people at risk of complications from bacteremia.
Many studies have shown the presence of bacteremia immediately following gum agitation from dental procedures but this doesn’t indicate that regular dental cleaning shouldn’t be done.
What Do Sealants and Fluoride Treatments Do?
Sealants.Sealants are a thin coating applied to a child’s molars to help protect against cavities (also called dental caries).
Fluoride treatments.Also known as fluoride varnishing, many research studies have shown fluoride varnish helps prevent tooth decay. In fact, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends:
Is Flossing Important?
How Much Does Dental Cleaning Cost?
A 2017 survey of dentists showed an average cleaning costs between about $88 and $135.The cost may vary depending on where you live and the charges may be more if you have excessive plaque and tartar build-up.
If your dental visit involves a consultation from the dentist that includes X-rays, a full-mouth exam, impressions, or other procedures there will be additional fees.
For other procedures, like fillings or crowns, there is usually a shared cost between you and the insurance provider. It is always best to talk with your insurance provider to understand your out-of-pocket expenses.
How to Prevent Dental Problems
One aspect of dental prophylaxis is to teach patients how to perform preventative measures at home, such as correct techniques for regularflossingand brushing.
Dental Brushing
The most impactful preventative action that dentists teach their patients is that regular brushing is advantageous to oral health, lending itself to lowering the incidence of dental cavities. According to one Cochrane review, it’s important that fluoride toothpaste is used.
Rotating power toothbrushes were found to do a better job at removing plaque and reducing gingivitis than traditional toothbrushes.
When it comes to how often a person should brush the teeth for optimal results, there haven’t been a lot of studies conducted that provide reliable information. The studies that have been done, however, generally support brushing twice per day.
Crest vs. Colgate Toothpaste
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to recognize that dental prophylaxis research contradicts some of the current standards of dental care. Various studies and reviews do support the idea of brushing two times each day with fluoride toothpaste for good oral health. For kids, the evidence strongly supports the use of fluoride varnish or sealants. Whether other recommended dental prophylaxis procedures are 100 percent necessary for oral health, however, requires further research.
Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly?
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sen B, Blackburn J, Morrisey MA, et al.Effectiveness of preventive dental visits in reducing nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures.Pediatrics. 2013;131(6):1107-13. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-2586American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): consequences and preventive strategies.American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, Food and Drug Administration.Dental radiographic examinations: recommendations for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure.Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV.Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;12(12):CD004625. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004625.pub5Olson LB, Turner DJ, Cox GM, Hostler CJ.Streptococcus salivariusprosthetic joint infection following dental cleaning despite antibiotic prophylaxis.Case Rep Infect Dis. 2019;2019:8109280. doi:10.1155/2019/8109280American Dental Association.Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures.Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-682.e12. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2016.06.001Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force.Prevention of dental caries in children from birth through age 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.Pediatrics. 2014;133(6):1102-1111. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-0483Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, et al.Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4(4):CD012018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2Dental Economics.The Dental Economics annual fee survey.Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny A-M, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A.Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007868.pub3
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sen B, Blackburn J, Morrisey MA, et al.Effectiveness of preventive dental visits in reducing nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures.Pediatrics. 2013;131(6):1107-13. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-2586American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): consequences and preventive strategies.American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, Food and Drug Administration.Dental radiographic examinations: recommendations for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure.Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV.Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;12(12):CD004625. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004625.pub5Olson LB, Turner DJ, Cox GM, Hostler CJ.Streptococcus salivariusprosthetic joint infection following dental cleaning despite antibiotic prophylaxis.Case Rep Infect Dis. 2019;2019:8109280. doi:10.1155/2019/8109280American Dental Association.Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures.Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-682.e12. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2016.06.001Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force.Prevention of dental caries in children from birth through age 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.Pediatrics. 2014;133(6):1102-1111. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-0483Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, et al.Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4(4):CD012018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2Dental Economics.The Dental Economics annual fee survey.Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny A-M, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A.Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007868.pub3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sen B, Blackburn J, Morrisey MA, et al.Effectiveness of preventive dental visits in reducing nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures.Pediatrics. 2013;131(6):1107-13. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-2586American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): consequences and preventive strategies.American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, Food and Drug Administration.Dental radiographic examinations: recommendations for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure.Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV.Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;12(12):CD004625. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004625.pub5Olson LB, Turner DJ, Cox GM, Hostler CJ.Streptococcus salivariusprosthetic joint infection following dental cleaning despite antibiotic prophylaxis.Case Rep Infect Dis. 2019;2019:8109280. doi:10.1155/2019/8109280American Dental Association.Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures.Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-682.e12. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2016.06.001Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force.Prevention of dental caries in children from birth through age 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.Pediatrics. 2014;133(6):1102-1111. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-0483Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, et al.Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4(4):CD012018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2Dental Economics.The Dental Economics annual fee survey.Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny A-M, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A.Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007868.pub3
Sen B, Blackburn J, Morrisey MA, et al.Effectiveness of preventive dental visits in reducing nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures.Pediatrics. 2013;131(6):1107-13. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-2586
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): consequences and preventive strategies.
American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, Food and Drug Administration.Dental radiographic examinations: recommendations for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure.
Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV.Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;12(12):CD004625. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004625.pub5
Olson LB, Turner DJ, Cox GM, Hostler CJ.Streptococcus salivariusprosthetic joint infection following dental cleaning despite antibiotic prophylaxis.Case Rep Infect Dis. 2019;2019:8109280. doi:10.1155/2019/8109280
American Dental Association.Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures.
Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-682.e12. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2016.06.001
Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force.Prevention of dental caries in children from birth through age 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.Pediatrics. 2014;133(6):1102-1111. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-0483
Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, et al.Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4(4):CD012018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2
Dental Economics.The Dental Economics annual fee survey.
Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny A-M, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A.Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007868.pub3
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