What Happens During Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Your consistent and proper dental hygiene habits at home can prevent gum disease. Therefore, it is always important to brush twice a day, floss daily, and to compliment your efforts by seeing your dentist every six months for routine exams and dental cleanings.

Sometimes your dentist may recommend a deep teeth cleaning. Indicators that suggest a deep teeth cleaning are bleeding gums, swollen and inflamed gums, receding gums, and loose teeth. Deep teeth cleaning is also called periodontal scaling and root planing.

What is Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Deep teeth cleaning will remove the buildup of plaque or tartar on your teeth below the surface of your gums, removing the primary source of the gum disease and immediately improving gum health.

Plaque is a clear sticky film that forms on your teeth daily. It contains damaging bacteria and is formed by food particles mixing with your saliva. The accumulation of plaque or tartar will then lead to gum disease. This starts with gingivitis, which is inflammation of your gums. If left untreated, the gingivitis will methodically advance to periodontitis. This is now a serious gum infection that will destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

The Benefits of Deep Teeth Cleaning

Some of the benefits of a deep teeth cleaning include:

  • Eliminates the primary source of gum disease.
  • Will eliminate your bad breath.
  • Protects the roots of your teeth.
  • Promotes healthy and normal gums.
  • Helps prevent tooth loss.
  • Treats the current infection and promotes healing.
  • Cleaning your teeth below the gumline.

You may need a deep teeth cleaning if gum disease has resulted in your gums pulling away from your teeth, creating a gap or pocket deeper than normal. If the gum disease worsens, these gaps will continue to widen. This now weakens the bones supporting your teeth, causing loose teeth and tooth loss.

The Deep Teeth Cleaning Process

Deep teeth cleaning is more deliberate and involved than a routine teeth cleaning. A standard teeth cleaning every six months removes plaque and tartar from above your gumline. A deep teeth cleaning goes a step further, removing plaque and tartar from below your gumline.

Deep teeth cleaning involves the scaling and even root planing procedures. A complete mouth deep cleaning usually takes two appointments, an appointment for each side, each lasting about 90 minutes. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area, then a handheld scaler is used to scrap off the damaging plaque from the surface of the tooth. Sometimes an ultrasonic tool may be added for stubborn areas. When the plaque is removed, the primary source of the infection is gone, and your gums will heal. If your gum infection were more severe an antibiotic could be necessary. After the deep teeth cleaning is completed a follow-up appointment will be made to measure the gaps or pockets to confirm their reduction in size and a return to normal.

Deep teeth cleaning is a quite common and safe procedure, and you will experience some sensitivity and minor swelling afterward. If any swelling, bleeding, or pain continues past a week after your procedure, you should call your dentist.

Can Teeth Fall Out After Deep Teeth Cleaning?