Whenever you go to the dentist for a routine checkup, you get a dental exam, some x-rays, and a standard cleaning. However, after poking and prodding around, your dentist may find something suspect and a more serious cleaning is needed. This is when a “deep cleaning” will be suggested. If you already got a standard cleaning, is a deep cleaning really necessary?
Deep cleaning is a dental procedure to treat periodontal and gum disease. If during a dental inspection your dentist notices deep pockets where the gums are pulling away from your teeth, they will need to take action to prevent gum disease from taking over your mouth. Also known as scaling and root planing, deep cleaning removes excess plaque and smooths any rough spots on the root of your tooth.
When you go in for a dental exam, the dentist will measure the area surrounding your teeth to try to see if you have any pockets that can be indicative of the early stages of gum disease. If the area between the gums and your tooth is five millimeters or more, it officially is called a pocket and is cause for concern. If you have 5 millimeter or larger pockets, you likely need a deep cleaning from a dental hygienist.
As mentioned above, deep cleaning is also called scaling and root planing because this largely describes the entire process. The dental hygienist will start by scaling your mouth, removing tartar and plaque that has built up on the surface of your teeth and from the pockets between your teeth and gums. Next, they will start root planing, which is when they will remove tartar and plaque from the surface of your tooth root. The whole process is usually completed over two separate visits to your dentist.
After a deep cleaning, your teeth, gum pockets, and tooth roots should be relatively clean and free of plaque and tartar. If you practice good dental hygiene every day you should expect to see the signs of periodontal disease subside. If after three months you visit a dentist and plaque and tartar has once again built up in and around your teeth, you may have to undergo a more serious periodontal procedure.
If you are in need of a deep cleaning to help fight the degenerative effects of gum disease, contact University Dental. Located in San Diego, University Dental specializes in a variety of different dental treatments and procedures, including deep cleanings. Our dental hygienist will use advanced techniques to clean your tooth, tooth root, and gum pockets of any and all plaque and tartar to help treat any of the early signs of gum disease. If you are interested in learning more or wish to schedule an appointment, contact University Dental today by calling (619) 582-4224.
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