Oral Prophylaxis
A professional preventive dental procedure involving the removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from supragingival and marginally subgingival tooth surfaces, distinct from a full therapeutic scaling and root planing.
Full Definition
Oral prophylaxis, often referred to colloquially as a 'cleaning,' is a preventive service typically performed on patients with healthy periodontium or mild gingivitis. It encompasses supragingival scaling, selective polishing, and flossing. The procedure is coded D1110 (adult prophylaxis) or D1120 (child prophylaxis) under the CDT nomenclature. Editors must be careful not to use 'prophylaxis' interchangeably with 'periodontal maintenance' (D4910) or 'scaling and root planing,' which are therapeutic procedures for patients with active or treated periodontal disease. The term appears frequently in insurance narratives and treatment records.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use interchangeably with 'periodontal maintenance.' In formal coding contexts, always pair with the correct D-code.
In Context
- "The patient was scheduled for an oral prophylaxis and fluoride treatment as part of her six-month recall visit." — Appointment scheduling record
- "Billing the procedure as an oral prophylaxis when periodontal disease is present may constitute insurance fraud." — Compliance and coding guidance document