What Happens During Deep Teeth Cleaning?
Deep teeth cleaning is a dental procedure made to treat the area under your gumline where routine cleanings simply cannot reach. Tartar and plaque amass under the surface, and this accumulation can cause gum disease, bleeding, and inflammation. This cleaning type is often recommended to manage moderate to early periodontal disease stages. Deep cleaning may also help stop your gum disease from advancing. Here’s what to expect if you need to schedule a deep cleaning for your teeth.
The dentist will start with a complete examination and they will use a periodontal probe in order to measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums. The depth of the pocket between your teeth and gums will inform the dentist how much buildup extends under the surface. X-rays of teeth will check for bone loss and more non surface signs of gum disease might be revealed.
The deep cleaning appointment will start with an application of a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. This is a step that helps to minimize any discomfort. Depending on your treatment plan, the dentist may suggest deep cleaning over multiple appointments in order to address one area thoroughly before moving on to the next.
Scaling is the initial part of thorough cleaning. Your tooth surfaces and the pockets under the gums will have plaque, tartar, and bacteria removed. To clean along the root surfaces, special tools, either ultrasonic devices or hand instruments, will dislodge hardened deposits. All debris is cleared away without damage to the surrounding tissue.
Once the scaling part is done, the next step to take is root planing. During this portion of it, your dental professional smooths out the root surfaces of your teeth. Again, bacterial accumulation is what makes the goal more difficult. The gum tissue reattaches itself to the tooth with more ease via a smoother root and also reduces pocket depth as it heals from gum disease.
After the scaling and root planing, the dentist may have additional steps to help your gums heal. An antimicrobial rinse is put directly into cleaned areas sometimes to help lower bacteria, or they might treat within the area with a localized antibiotic. Your dentist or your hygienist may also provide some guidance on just how to care for all of your gums in all of the days that follow. You will get some advice about flossing, mouth rinses, plus brushing technique.
Deep cleaning is a way to restore gum health. It is able to help control infection, reduce inflammation, and preserve all of the teeth-supporting structures. Now that you have the information on what to expect during each part of the process, you can move forward with addressing your gum disease with more confidence and with clarity.
If you have more questions about deep teeth cleaning or how it could work as a part of your treatment plan to achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if deep cleaning can help you.