So, your dentist has just recommended a deep teeth cleaning procedure for you. You’re freaked out and already contemplating whether you actually need it.
Even if you think you don’t, you most likely really do.
Let’s shed a little more light on this procedure.
Deep Teeth Cleaning: What Is It?
This procedure is often referred to as gum therapy. It focuses on thoroughly cleaning the spaces between the gums and the teeth right down to the roots.
The tooth, the gum lines and the sides of each tooth are thoroughly cleaned as in a regular cleaning. This procedure, however, removes tartar buildup below the gum line and then the tooth root.
The procedure is also referred to as root planning and scaling. Deep teeth cleaning is more thorough and extensive compared to standard cleaning. You’ll probably need more than one visit, and it helps a lot in the treatment or control of gum disease.
How Is Deep Teeth Cleaning Different From Standard Cleaning?
Regular cleaning is done with preventative maintenance being the major focus. Deep teeth cleaning, on the other hand, is done to halt the progression of periodontal diseases, to remove extensive buildup and to prevent it from getting worse in the future.
Bacteria and some plaque buildup on the teeth are cleaned with normal brushing and flossing.
However, there is still a substantial amount of plaque that builds up on the teeth in places such as the gum lines, which most of us often miss while brushing. That plaque may be impossible to remove without a professional. It hardens to become tartar, which is not removable with just a brush and some floss.
People who don’t follow this with a proper brushing routine or who are genetically predisposed to gum disease may find that their gums are swollen and red, often bleeding when touched even softly.
This marks an onset of gingivitis that should immediately be tackled and prevented from becoming full-blown periodontal disease. This can eventually result in an infection of the gums and the total loss of a tooth. At this point, what you need is a deep cleaning procedure also known as gum interceptive therapy.
Deep cleanings are quite different from regular cleaning and are essential in the treatment of gum disease.
If you need more information on deep teeth cleaning or gum disease, or you want to schedule a visit, call us today at 425-320-0729.
