Prophylaxis
Pronunciation: proh-fuh-LAK-sis
A preventive dental procedure involving the removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from tooth surfaces, typically performed on patients with healthy or gingivitis-level periodontium.
Full Definition
In dental hygiene, prophylaxis (plural: prophylaxes; CDT code D1110 for adults or D1120 for children) refers to a preventive oral health procedure involving supragingival and marginally subgingival scaling, polishing, and oral hygiene instruction. It is distinct from scaling and root planing (SRP), which targets deeper subgingival deposits in patients with periodontitis. The term is commonly abbreviated 'prophy' in clinical shorthand, but this colloquial form should not appear in formal documentation. Editors must verify that the procedure described in narrative text matches the CDT code cited.
Usage
Usage note: Use the full term 'prophylaxis' in clinical records. The colloquial 'prophy' is acceptable only in internal clinical shorthand; editors should expand it in any external-facing document.
In Context
- "The patient was placed on a six-month prophylaxis recall schedule following successful periodontal therapy." — Recall/maintenance record
- "In the insurance claim, the hygienist incorrectly coded the procedure as a prophylaxis when the documented treatment was consistent with SRP." — Insurance audit document