When your hygienist or dentist recommends a deep cleaning operation, also known as scaling and root planing, it's because they want to assist you to put an end to an aggressive and active gum infection. However, deep cleanings vary slightly from routine six-month dental cleanings.
Knowing what to expect during your deep cleaning appointment will alleviate some of the anxiety you have and the procedure will provide you with the necessary tools you require to rebuild your smile after gum disease. The ultimate objective is to prevent further infection and assist you in keeping your natural teeth.
What is a Deep Teeth Cleaning Procedure?
When performed as part of a treatment plan, deep cleanings can stop the progression of gum/periodontal disease and restore oral health. Plaque and tartar can cause serious infections under the gums, and these procedures are made to get rid of the buildup inside the "periodontal pockets." In contrast to routine dental cleaning procedures, these deep cleaning procedures use specialized equipment or technology to target specific infection-prone regions.
In most cases, your dentist will only be able to clean one-quarter of your oral cavity in a single appointment and schedule one to two quarters per appointment. It is also not uncommon to have only one half of the oral cavity cleaned during a single deep cleaning appointment, and then have the remaining half done at a different appointment anywhere from one to two weeks from your first appointment.
The Difference Between Deep Teeth Cleanings and Routine Cleanings
How does one know whether they simply need a routine cleaning or deep teeth cleaning? During a routine dental cleaning, your hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from above the gum line, polish the teeth, and then focus on any trouble spots just beneath the gum line.
They assist you to maintain the condition of your gums and teeth because they are preventative. However, neglecting to maintain appropriate oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings can result in plaque buildup beneath the gum line and subsequent gum disease. When it gets to this point, your dental hygienist or dentist will recommend a deep cleaning of your teeth.
When Do You Need a Deep Teeth Cleaning?
You will require a deep cleaning when gum tissue begins to pull away from the teeth as a result of active gum disease. This means that deep "pockets" have developed around the teeth as a result of the detachment of the gums from the bone and the resulting decline in bone volume. In most cases, there is usually a substantial amount of tartar deposit stuck to the surfaces of the affected teeth's root surfaces.
Periodontitis is a type of gum disease that is aggressive and causes severe inflammation of the gums. Unlike gingivitis, you cannot reverse it by yourself. Your dental professional needs to take care of it. The very first step in treating periodontitis is to get rid of the bacteria (tartar and plaque) that have accumulated in the pockets between your teeth and gums. The objective here is to clear out some space so that the gum line can reattach itself and the bone loss can be stopped.
Periodontal Disease Symptoms
Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease, while periodontitis is a more advanced and aggressive form of the disease. While gingivitis only manifests as mild irritability, redness, bleeding, or moderate swelling, periodontal diseases significantly worsen the condition. Some of the most common periodontitis symptoms are:
- Swollen gums.
- Gum recession.
- Sensitivity easy bleeding gums.
- Halitosis (persistent bad breath).
- Tooth loss and mobility.
- Gaps between the teeth.
- Tartar buildup.
- Bone loss.
- Food getting caught between your teeth or gums.
- Gum pockets (periodontal pockets) around the teeth.
Your dental specialist is the only person who can diagnose most of these indicators of gum disease, including bone loss, periodontal pockets, and tartar buildup on your root surfaces. X-rays and other specialized equipment are often used to determine the degree of harm that has already happened and the type of periodontal disease that your case falls under.
Keep in mind that if you smoke, you might not have the common gum disease symptoms an ordinary periodontal patient has. In reality, since there's an absence of blood flow and inflammation, your gums can appear completely healthy.
Risk Factors Linked to Periodontal Disease
Chronic severe gum disease that goes untreated is linked to serious health problems such as:
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Uncontrolled levels of glucose in the blood, in cases of diabetics.
- An increased likelihood of pneumonia.
- Infertility.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Stillbirth and preeclampsia.
In extreme cases, dementia may set in. Therefore, even though you think that your oral health isn't important to you, having an infection in your oral cavity could affect your overall well-being. Also, periodontitis happens to be the main reason why adults lose their teeth.
Are Deep Teeth Cleanings Necessary?
When you've received a diagnosis of periodontal disease, then you will need a deep cleaning. With periodontal disease, something more substantial is needed because basic preventative teeth cleanings are insufficient to remove excessive tartar buildup from the affected areas. If you don't get your teeth professionally cleaned, bacteria will continue to breed in the crevices underneath your gums.
The infection can then quickly spread throughout the body through the flow of blood. While the crowns of your teeth could seem beautiful at first, the foundation that underlies them will eventually fail. Without proper dental hygiene, tooth loss is imminent, and the spread of mouth bacteria throughout the body is guaranteed.
In most cases, you will need to get your teeth professionally deep cleaned if you have several periodontal pockets that go at least 5 millimeters deep. Or if you're experiencing several gum disease symptoms. You will also need a deep clean when there is obvious tartar buildup on your X-ray results (which can obstruct the proper measurement of pocket depths). Overall, thorough teeth deep cleaning can stop the spread of gum disease.
Getting Ready For Your Deep Cleaning Appointment
Your deep teeth cleaning will likely be scheduled to happen in the early hours of the day. It's best to start the process early because it takes more effort and time for the hygienist to perform the procedure. Keep in mind that the procedure usually takes two appointments, with each appointment consisting of cleaning half of the oral cavity.
For maximum comfort, layer your clothing. You could even carry a lightweight, clean blanket if you want to. If you'd like to drown out the noise around you, you can put on your earbuds, load up your preferred playlist on your mobile device, and listen to music.
Additionally, if you are feeling a bit more anxious than usual, you're free to inquire with your hygienist or dentist about including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) if they offer that. The purpose of this is to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible.
Though you really shouldn't, you can probably return the next day to school or work. You can feel a little bit of discomfort at the injection site or around your gums after getting a local anesthetic. In the first few days, it may be helpful to have ibuprofen tablets on standby for use as instructed.
You can generally maintain a normal diet, except for extremely cold or hot foods. If you've just had dental work done, you might find that your mouth is numb for several hours. If so, you might want to eat something soft after the appointment.
A Step-by-Step Deep Cleaning Procedure
Below are the procedures for a standard scaling and root planing procedure (deep cleaning); certain steps could change depending on the situation at hand.
Examinations, Imaging Tests, and Gum Charting
This is likely to take place before the deep teeth cleaning appointment. Every step is important to gauge the severity of bone loss as well as periodontal disease.
Numbing Gel or Local Anesthesia
For the procedure, local anesthesia is used on the targeted region to reduce sensitivity. Some people may not require numbing medications, while others would rather not feel anything at all. Local anesthesia could be necessary if your teeth are generally sensitive. It is acceptable to let the hygienist begin and then reassess things after a while.
Optional Sedation Using Nitrous Oxide
Laughing gas could reduce your nervousness and make you feel at ease during your dentist visits, including deep cleanings. Since nitrous oxide is completely reversible and works quickly, you could take yourself back home after your dentist uses it.
Ultrasonic and Hand Teeth Scaling
The dental hygienist will remove most tartar and plaque below the gum line using a small ultrasonic device during the SRP (deep teeth cleaning procedure). These ultrasonic tools get rid of tartar while irrigating the area surrounding them at thousands of cycles per second. In addition to disinfecting the surface of your teeth, this technology eliminates bacterial colonies living in the gum pockets.
After using ultrasonic equipment, specialized manual hand tools (curettes and scalers) will be utilized to remove any residual bacterial deposits. Because of variations in tooth position and shape, these tools are adapted for use in more difficult-to-reach areas of the oral cavity and gums.
Localized Antibiotic Application (If Appropriate) Or Irrigation
If your periodontal pockets are showing signs of serious infection, you may need additional treatments. One example is the use of prescription irrigation fluids or locally applied antibiotic pills.
These little dosages of medications are injected using a syringe right into the gum pocket(s). Your dental practitioner could even recommend that you use a particularly strong mouthwash for a few weeks.
Additional Deep Cleanings and Follow-Up Appointments
You need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist between two and four weeks after your deep cleanings to have the gums assessed. The hygienist will re-evaluate the depth of your periodontal pockets to check for reattached tissue. If grafting is required, it will be discussed as part of the plan for continued treatment.
Referral to a Dental Specialist
Gum disorders can sometimes become so serious that your dentist lacks the tools necessary to properly treat them. Or perhaps you don't benefit from treatment in the way they had anticipated. They'll refer you to a periodontist if you have serious gum disease. Periodontists use specialized equipment, like microscopes, to examine the areas between teeth and gums.
Additionally, they can carry out surgical operations including "gum flap procedures," in which tissue flaps are pulled back to reach the surfaces of the roots, guaranteeing a deep cleaning for periodontitis that is particularly aggressive in those locations.
Once the periodontist has finished the gum scaling, he or she will usually send you to your dentist or arrange for you to visit them periodically for examinations until you are feeling much better.
Recovery After the Procedure
Here is what you should expect after your deep clean:
Twenty-four Hours After the Deep Clean
If you'd like your gum treatment to be effective, you need to pay close attention to the aftercare instructions. It's essential to avoid reinfection or a new buildup of tartar. Since tartar can develop in as little as 24 hours if not properly removed, it is crucial to maintain routine flossing and brushing.
You'll have to incorporate a few more oral hygiene techniques, including utilizing a water flosser because your toothbrush or floss can't go into deep periodontal pockets. Water flossers are effective because they can remove plaque as well as food debris from deep into the gum pockets, which can be a couple of millimeters below your gum line.
If you want a deep teeth cleaning procedure done, you need to get your hands on some of these. If you use it consistently, there's a good possibility your follow-up exam will reveal even better outcomes.
Weeks Following the Deep Cleaning
A last deep cleaning and evaluation will be scheduled for about two to four weeks following your previous appointment. At this appointment, your dentist will most likely do a final polish on the teeth and examine the depth of your periodontal pockets to see how well the gums have healed.
Your dental professional will likely set you up on a re-care plan of three to four months to ensure you don't relapse and to keep an eye on your progress.
Find a Deep Teeth Cleaning Professional Near Me
Have you scheduled a deep teeth cleaning appointment with your dental hygienist? Without periodontal care, not only could you lose your teeth, but the effects of bacteria on your body's immune system could have serious consequences for your overall health. You cannot take chances.
You can contact Washington Dental if you suspect you have periodontitis/gum disease and want to learn more about the benefits of deep teeth cleaning. Call us today at 310-217-1507 to schedule your appointment. We have clinics in Carson, Los Angeles, Lomita, and Torrance.
