What to Expect from a Deep Cleaning?

A deep dental cleaning is different than a regular cleaning that your dentist may give your teeth when you attend a check-up appointment. Regular cleaning is carried out to help maintain the current health of your gums, and keep your mouth looking and feeling great. However, a deep dental cleaning is a much more invasive clean that is only recommended in certain situations. Here’s what you need to know about deep cleaning.

 

When is a Deep Dental Cleaning Recommended?

A deep dental clean is usually recommended when a patient has poor dental hygiene which has allowed plaque to build up on the teeth and affect the health of the teeth and gums. Generally, a deep clean is needed if you start to notice that your gums are bleeding when you are brushing your teeth or flossing. This is the most common and obvious sign of gum disease – an inflammatory condition that occurs when the bacteria in plaque spread onto the gums causing infection. When you develop gum disease, lots of other unpleasant symptoms start to incur, including the gums pulling away from the teeth. This causes the creation of small pockets between the teeth and gums that can trap further food and bacteria, worsening the effects of the gum disease. 

 

What’s Involved in a Deep Dental Cleaning?

A deep dental clean is usually carried out using a local anesthetic. This is because it can be quite uncomfortable for patients, but a local anesthetic removes any pain, making the process easier to tolerate. Deep dental cleans are also known as "scaling and root planing" because these are two key elements of the procedure.

 

After your teeth have been suitably anesthetized, your dentist will use a special scaling tool to scrape away plaque and tartar which have formed on the teeth and on the tooth roots, which are found below the gum line. Plaque is the clear, sticky substance that forms continually on our teeth during the day and feels slippery when you run your tongue over them. Meanwhile, tartar is what forms when plaque isn’t removed, and when it forms into yellow-brown deposits which can’t be removed using only a toothbrush. In fact, only a dentist has the tools necessary to be able to remove tartar.

 

Once the plaque and tartar have been removed, your dentist will carry out the planing. Again, this is done using a special tool that smooths the surfaces of the roots, removing any bumps or edges that plaque may find easy to form on. This helps to reduce the chances of further plaque/tartar developing below the gum line in the future. It also makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the teeth, providing a secure seal against future penetration of food debris and bacteria that could trigger re-infection.

 

Sometimes it is necessary for dentists to prescribe antibiotics which can help to fight against gum disease and the future, and that support the healing process so that your gums can recover from treatment more quickly.

 

Learn more about what to expect from a deep cleaning, contact kksmiles in Marietta, GA at  (770) 830-3700 to schedule an exam and cleaning.