Deep cleaning is a vital component of treating gum disease because it removes the bacteria causing the infection and protects against future harm. In addition to deep cleanings, regular maintenance visits are crucial to keeping your gums healthy moving forward.
What is deep cleaning?
Scale and root planing involve using tools to clean teeth below the gum line and smooth out any rough spots on teeth. This process removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria and gives gums a chance to reattach to teeth surfaces.
The Benefits of Periodontal Deep Cleaning
A periodontal deep cleaning slows and sometimes reverses the effects of periodontal disease, which includes bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums, and tooth loss. The deep cleaning removes plaque and calculus deposits built up around the teeth and between the teeth where regular brushing and flossing cannot reach, promoting healthier gums and reducing inflammation.
If your dentist recommends a deep cleaning, the benefits of this procedure include the following:
- Stopping the advancement of gum disease.
- Treating a current infection and promoting healing.
- Cleaning your teeth above and below the gum line.
- Eliminating bad breath caused by gum disease.
- Protecting the roots of your teeth
- What happens during a deep periodontal cleaning?
Those with moderate to advanced gum disease can benefit from deep periodontal cleaning, a two-step process. The process helps to reduce inflammation and infection caused by bacteria living below the gum line and reduces the pockets of space between teeth and gums where bacteria can get trapped.
The first step in this process is scaling, which involves your dentist eliminating plaque and tartar below the gum line. This procedure helps stop bacteria’s further growth that causes inflammation and decay. A dental tool is used for this procedure, which is more effective at removing hard deposits than regular brushing or flossing at home.
Root planing is the second step of deep cleaning your gums. During this visit, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth and help smooth them down. This helps reduce the size of any pockets developed between your teeth and gums due to periodontal disease. It also encourages gums to reattach better to teeth so that bacteria cannot hide in these pockets and cause further damage.
Sometimes, you may need more than one visit to complete a deep cleaning procedure effectively. Depending on your case’s severity, it could take up to four visits at 1-2 hours each before your treatment is complete. Your dentist will discuss your individual needs before beginning treatment so that you know what kind of timeline you are looking at for recovery time.
Is a periodontal deep cleaning painful?
Deep periodontal cleaning may result in some discomfort, but it should not be a painful experience. If you feel anxious or uneasy about the procedure, your dentist can numb your gums with a topical or local anesthetic. After the numbing agent has taken effect, your dentist may use either an ultrasonic scaler or hand instruments to remove plaque and tartar buildup from above and below the gum line. Depending on how much scaling needs to be done, this process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.
Some people report feeling sensitive after treatment, and your gums may also be swollen or tender for several days. Minor bleeding is also possible if extensive plaque buildup needs to be removed. Your dentist will advise you on keeping the area clean with salt water rinses or special mouthwashes to avoid infection and further irritation of the gums.
Overall, deep cleaning should not be painful as long as you’re properly prepared and comfortable during the procedure. You can always talk openly with your dentist about any concerns or questions beforehand to ensure that any discomfort experienced is minimal.
Consult your dentist or periodontist
Periodontal deep cleaning is an essential part of treating gum disease. This treatment involves removing the tartar and plaque below the gum line, which can help reduce inflammation and improve oral health. If you are experiencing any symptoms of gum disease, such as redness, swelling, bleeding, or bad breath, it is important to seek treatment immediately. Deep cleaning reduces and removes the bacteria that have caused gum disease and can also help prevent further damage. Regular periodontal maintenance visits are also recommended following a deep cleaning to keep the gums healthy.
Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. We would be happy to answer any questions and help you get on the road to better oral health!
