Importance and Benefits of Debridement
- Removes plaque and calculus buildup
- Reduces risk of periodontal disease
- Helps maintain healthy gums
- Improves oral hygiene
- Prevents bad breath
- Prevents gum disease
- Reduces risk of tooth loss
- Improves overall oral health
- Enhances the effectiveness of other dental treatments
- Promotes a brighter smile
Types of Debridement
- Scaling: removes plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces
- Root planing: smooths the root surface to prevent bacteria buildup
- Curettage: removes infected tissue from periodontal pockets
- Ultrasonic debridement: uses high-frequency sound waves to remove plaque and calculus
- Air polishing: uses a jet of air and abrasive particles to remove stains and plaque
Tools and Techniques for Debridement
- Hand scalers: metal instruments used to manually remove plaque and calculus
- Ultrasonic scalers: use vibrations to break up plaque and calculus
- Dental lasers: can be used for precise debridement and disinfection
- Air abrasion: uses a stream of abrasive particles to remove plaque and stains
- Subgingival irrigation: flushes out bacteria from periodontal pockets
Considerations for Debridement
- Frequency: depends on individual needs, but usually recommended every 6 months
- Pain: local anesthesia may be used to minimize discomfort during debridement
- Cost: debridement may be covered by dental insurance, but varies
- Aftercare: proper oral hygiene at home is crucial to maintain results of debridement
- Professional guidance: consult with a dental professional for personalized debridement recommendations
Related Procedures and Factors
- Periodontal therapy
- Tooth cleaning and polishing
- Oral hygiene practices (brushing, interproximal cleaning)
- Smoking as a risk factor for periodontal pockets and delayed healing
- Surgical periodontal therapy if non-surgical therapy is not effective
In dentistry, debridement refers to the removal by dental cleaning of accumulations of plaque and calculus (tartar) in order to maintain dental health. Debridement may be performed using ultrasonic instruments, which fracture the calculus, thereby facilitating its removal, as well as hand tools, including periodontal scaler and curettes, or through the use of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide.
| Debridement (dental) | |
|---|---|
 Teeth before (top) and after (bottom) a thorough mechanical debridement | |
| ICD-9-CM | 96.54 |
