What Is Deep Teeth Cleaning?

What Is Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Deep teeth cleaning focuses on cleaning plaque, tartar, bacteria, and debris from your teeth, below the gum line to reduce gum inflammation and improve your overall gum health. This dental treatment is designed to clean between the teeth and gums all the way down to the root of the tooth. During a standard dental cleaning, your dental hygienist only focuses on the side, back and front of your teeth to remove built-up plaque and tartar. 

There is a “pocket” between each tooth root and your gums that can have plaque, tartar, and bacteria buildup. This plaque and tartar are not removed during regular dental cleanings. For patients suffering from inflamed gums and sensitivity, this plaque needs to be removed from these “pockets” to prevent other serious dental concerns such as tooth decay. A healthy set of teeth and gums typically only have a pocket space of three millimeters and under. If you have gingivitis, or gum disease, these pockets become larger, trapping more plaque and tartar within them. Your dentist will recommend a deep cleaning procedure if your gums have separated five or more millimeters away from your tooth roots. 

Deep Teeth Cleaning Procedure

Deep cleanings usually take place over one or two appointments involving two parts一gum scaling and root planing. For both appointments, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic to your gums to prevent you from feeling any pain or discomfort during the appointment. The first appointment entails gum scaling where your dentist will remove all of the plaque and tartar from below the gumline. 

During your next appointment, your dentist will perform root planing. Once again, they will apply a local anesthetic to your gums to prevent you from feeling pain or discomfort. Root planing requires your dentist to use a special dental instrument to smooth the root of the tooth helping the gums reattach to the tooth. This will minimize the pocket space between the tooth root and the gums to prevent future plaque and tartar buildup. Deep teeth cleaning is designed to treat gum diseases such as gingivitis and prevent the condition from worsening and require other extensive treatments such as surgery. 

Calgary SW Deep Teeth Cleaning

After a deep teeth cleaning, your teeth and gums may be sensitive. You will have follow-up appointments with your dentist to ensure your gums are healing correctly. Taking good care of your oral health is extremely important to prevent developing conditions such as gum disease or extreme plaque and tartar buildup. Make sure to visit your dentist regularly once every six months and remember to brush your teeth twice per day and floss. If you are having sensitivity issues or pain with your teeth or gums, do not wait to see if it will pass and instead book an appointment with your dentist right away. This will eliminate any risks of you developing more serious dental problems while ensuring that you are pain-free and have good oral health.

Dr. Korol Dental is a leading holistic and biocompatible dental practice in Calgary that offers Invisalign treatments, dental cleanings, emergency dentistry, and more. Dr. Korol has the experience and expertise to evaluate your teeth to ensure you are not at risk for developing gum disease or suffering from other dental issues such as tooth decay. To learn more about dental cleanings and deep teeth cleanings, contact our clinic by calling 1-403-245-9099, or by filling out our online contact form. 

FAQ

Q: How often should I visit the dentist for a dental cleaning?
A:  The Canadian Association of Dentistry recommends patients visit their dentist once every six months.

Q: How long is a deep teeth cleaning appointment?
A: Deep teeth cleaning appointments typically take an hour. Deep teeth cleaning also requires you to visit your dentist for at least two separate appointments. 

Q: How long does it take to recover from a deep teeth cleaning?
A: On average, it takes about 5 to 7 days for the gums to heal from a deep cleaning.