When a Routine Dental Cleaning Isn’t Enough

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By May 20, 2025

Have you ever said to yourself, “I really need to call Luxe Smile Dental Studio and schedule a dental cleaning appointment,” only to get caught up with work, kids, or other daily responsibilities? We understand how hectic life can get. It’s easy to delay appointments when your to-do list seems endless. But if you’ve been repeating that sentence for years without acting on it, now is the time to stop everything and call our office to schedule your visit.

What Do You Mean by Full Mouth Debridement?

If it’s been several years since your last dental cleaning, you may need an additional step before we can proceed with a standard cleaning or oral exam. In such cases, we might recommend a full mouth debridement (FMD). This is the most thorough cleaning available and is used to remove heavy buildup of plaque and tartar. It serves as an initial treatment and is often necessary before we can move forward with any further dental procedures or evaluations.

Can I Get a Standard Cleaning Instead?

A regular dental cleaning involves the hygienist using special tools to remove minor plaque buildup from your teeth. After that, your teeth are polished to a smooth, clean finish. One of our dentists then conducts an oral exam to check for signs of tooth decay and gum disease. However, if there’s too much plaque or tartar present, it becomes difficult for our team to clean your teeth effectively or identify underlying issues. That’s when a full mouth debridement becomes necessary. Once the FMD is completed, we can follow up with your routine cleaning and thorough exam to determine if any further treatment is required.

If you’ve been putting off your dental visit and live in or around Phoenix, AZ, we urge you to schedule an appointment today. With the end of the year approaching, it’s the perfect time to use your dental benefits before they expire. We look forward to welcoming you to our office soon!

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