When people hear the term “prophylaxis,” they usually think immediately of professional dental cleaning (PDC). While that is not wrong, it is far too narrow. In modern dentistry, prophylaxis is a comprehensive concept that goes far beyond removing tartar. It is your personal strategy to prevent disease from developing in the first place – true to the literal Greek meaning: to exclude something in advance.
Why is this more important than ever? Caries and periodontitis (inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth) remain among the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Periodontitis in particular often develops silently and without pain, yet it has well-documented links to systemic health issues – from diabetes to cardiovascular risks.
The goal of a prophylaxis session is therefore not just cleanliness, but reduction of bacterial load (biofilm management) and early detection. Here is how a modern session, based on current scientific standards, is structured.
Step 1: Risk profile and diagnostics
Before any instruments are used, we must understand how your mouth functions. No two patients are the same. Professional prophylaxis always begins with a thorough assessment.
- Medical history update We do not only examine your teeth. We also consider your general health. Medications (for example antihypertensives that may promote gum overgrowth), systemic diseases such as diabetes, or lifestyle factors like smoking all influence your individual risk profile.
- Indices and screening: We measure whether and where your gums bleed (BOP index) and whether periodontal pockets have formed (PSI screening). These are early warning signs of periodontitis.
- Visualisation: Often, a disclosing solution is applied to stain the teeth. This makes otherwise invisible biofilm visible and shows both you and us where home care can be improved.
Step 2: Personalised oral hygiene coaching
Based on the stained areas, we provide individual coaching. This is not about lecturing, but about practical guidance tailored to your needs.
- Which interdental brushes fit precisely into your interdental spaces?
- Would a sonic toothbrush be more suitable for you than a manual one?
- How do dietary habits (frequency of sugar and acid exposure) influence your personal caries risk?
Step 3: Professional dental cleaning (PDC)
The actual cleaning today follows minimally invasive, substance-preserving protocols. The aim is maximum cleanliness with minimal removal of healthy tooth structure.
- Biofilm management (air polishing) Using a fine powder-water spray (often based on erythritol or glycine), soft deposits and external stains from coffee, tea or nicotine are gently removed – even in hard-to-reach areas. This method is significantly gentler than traditional scraping techniques.
- Tartar removal Only after soft biofilm has been eliminated do we remove mineralised deposits (tartar) using modern ultrasonic devices or fine hand instruments.
- Cleaning below the gumline The area just beneath the gum margin (sulcus) is also carefully cleaned to prevent inflammation. If deep periodontal pockets are present, further periodontal therapy may be required.
- Polishing and fluoride application To reduce bacterial reattachment, tooth surfaces are polished smooth. Finally, fluoride varnish or gel is applied to promote remineralisation and strengthen enamel.
How often is “regular”?
The traditional recommendation of “twice a year” is a helpful guideline, but not medically accurate for everyone. Your recall interval depends on your individual risk profile:
- Healthy periodontal conditions: Every 6 months.
- Increased risk (history of periodontitis, implants, high caries activity): Often every 3 to 4 months.
Prophylaxis is not a cosmetic luxury – it is preventive medicine. The best dental treatment is always the one that never becomes necessary because the tooth remained healthy.