Dear CompDent Member:

These are several dental procedures that you may have heard referred to as "dental cleanings".  Some of these procedures are done to prevent periodontal disease (gum disease/pyorrhea) from occurring (preventive) while others are done to either stop or reverse the effects of the periodontal disease process (therapeutic).  Please remember that those procedures considered to be therapeutic have an additional copayment according to your Schedule of Benefits.

ADA CODE D1110/D1120                 Prophylaxis - Adult/Child (Preventive)

This is a routine cleaning of the teeth for a patient whose gums are in normal condition with no periodontal disease present.  A prophylaxis is a preventive treatment.  It includes the removal of plaque and calculus ("tartar") from the crown of the tooth, above the gum line.  The teeth are also polished.  This dental cleaning is covered at no additional cost except for any applicable office visit copayments.  Your dentist may determine that you need to have this procedure performed more frequently than every six months.  In this case, your plan may have a specific copayment.  Please refer to your Schedule of Benefits for plan specifics.

ADA CODE D4355                 Full Mouth Debridement to Enable Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation and Diagnosis

This is the removal of plaque and calculus ("tartar") from above the gumline (supragingival) and below the gumline (subgingival) which would keep the dentist from performing a comprehensive oral evaluation.  This is an initial procedure and does not eliminate the need for other periodontal treatment or cleanings.  This procedure has an additional copayment according to your Schedule of Benefits.

ADA CODE D4341                 Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing - Four or more teeth (Therapeutic) Per Quadrant

This procedure (sometimes referred to as a "deep cleaning") removes plaque and calculus ("tartar") from both the crown and the root of the tooth.  Scaling and root planing is very time consuming and often requires local anesthetic (numbing).  This is a therapeutic treatment usually associated with moderate to severe periodontal disease and has an additional copayment according to your Schedule of Benefits.

ADA CODE D4910                 Periodontal Maintenance (Therapeutic)

Periodontal maintenance therapy is an ongoing process following treatment for periodontal disease. It helps to prevent the progress of further disease and helps keep the gums healthy. It consists of a series of appointments in which the teeth are re-examined, any plaque and tartar are removed from the crown and roots, and the teeth are polished.  The number of follow-up appointments and the time between them vary from patient to patient.  This procedure has an additional copayment according to your Schedule of Benefits.

Current Dental Terminology © 2004 American Dental Association. All rights reserved

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