Procedures
Dental cleaning (prophylaxis)
A dental cleaning, also called prophylaxis, is a professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist that removes plaque, tartar and stains from the teeth.
During a professional teeth cleaning, a dentist or dental hygienist removes bacteria, plaque and tartar buildup from your tooth surfaces. Dental cleanings keep your teeth and gums healthy by removing buildup that brushing alone cannot reach.
The term for a routine cleaning is prophylaxis. Every cleaning includes two main steps, scaling and polishing. Scaling removes plaque and tartar with small tools. Polishing smooths the tooth surface. Sometimes you may also get x-rays or other preventive care, such as fluoride.
A routine cleaning is different from a deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, which is used to treat gum disease. Ask your dentist how often cleanings make sense for you. Our office describes cleanings on its teeth cleaning page.
Related terms
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning)
- Dental plaque
- Tartar (calculus)
- Dental hygienist
- Recall visit (checkup)