Subgingival Irrigation
The delivery of antimicrobial or therapeutic agents below the gumline into the periodontal pocket using a specialized tip or cannula.
Full Definition
Subgingival irrigation is a clinical adjunct procedure in which irrigating solutions—such as chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine—are directed beneath the gingival margin into the sulcus or periodontal pocket. It is used to reduce bacterial load and inflammation in areas inaccessible to mechanical debridement alone. Editors should note that 'subgingival' is always written as one unhyphenated word in clinical dental hygiene literature. It is distinct from supragingival (above-gumline) irrigation and should not be conflated with it.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'subgingival' only when used as a compound modifier directly preceding a noun in some house styles; confirm against the publication's style guide. Do not confuse with 'supragingival.'
In Context
- "The clinician performed subgingival irrigation with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate at sites with probing depths greater than 5 mm." — Clinical Progress Note
- "Subgingival irrigation should be documented separately from scaling procedures in the patient's treatment record." — Dental Hygiene Treatment Plan