All of us brush and floss our teeth regularly and despite that there is a buildup of plaque and tartar on our teeth because of our eating or drinking habits. This requires us to go to the dentist for a regular cleaning. Dentists recommend regular dental cleanings at least once or twice a year for everyone. But then there are some people who are advised to go for a deep cleaning. So if you are wondering what is the difference between regular and deep dental cleaning you have come to the right place. Let us understand what happens during a regular and deep dental cleaning. Before that let us see why we need dental cleaning in the first place.
Why do we need dental cleaning?
The bacteria in our mouth are constantly creating plaque which is a sticky film that covers the teeth which normally can be brushed and flossed away. However the plaque which has not been gotten rid off can harden into what is known as tartar. This tartar can now only be removed via a dental cleaning done by a professional and cannot be gotten rid off by just brushing and flossing at home. Tartar needs to be removed because if it remains on the teeth it can cause inflammation of the gums also called gingivitis which can further worsen into serious gum disease. Severe gum disease or periodontitis can lead to loss of teeth. Hence professional cleaning of our teeth is very important.
Regular Dental Cleaning
Most dental cleanings are performed by a dental hygienist. He/ She will first do a physical examination of your teeth to see the extent of problem. If no major issues are detected then they will proceed with the cleaning of the teeth.
They will then scrape your teeth above the gum line and between your teeth to remove any plaque or tartar using an instrument called as scaler.
Once all tartar is removed then the teeth are brushed using a grainy toothpaste which can compared to scrubbing your face.
The teeth are then flossed and the mouth rinsed after the whole process is complete.
This is then followed by the fluoride treatment to protect the teeth and gums from cavities. It involves application of a gel and a fluoride varnish on the teeth.
The time generally taken to complete this is a couple of hours but the actual time will depend on the amount of tartar on your teeth.
All of us are recommended to go for these regular cleanings but not all are recommended what is known as deep cleaning.
Deep Dental Cleaning
Some people suffer from bleeding gums, loose teeth or receding gums due to onset of a gum disease or there are chances that the tartar on their teeth has hardened because they did not go for regular dental cleanings. Such people often get recommended a deep dental cleaning by the dentist. Deep dental cleaning is also known as root planing or periodontal scaling.
The deep dental cleaning process is a long process and unlike regular dental cleaning may need more than 1 or 2 visits to the dentist depending on the severity of the situation.
This process may also require the use of anesthesia again depending on how severe is the issue.
Just like regular dental cleaning the first step in the deep dental cleaning is scraping of the plaque and tartar from the teeth, gum line and between the teeth with or without numbing the area.
This is then followed by what is called root planing in which the dentist will smoothen the roots of the teeth to help them better attach to the gums. This is done using a tool called as scaling tool. Scaling is nowadays done even by laser and other ultrasonic devices.
Depending on the situation the dentist may either inject or administer medication into your gums or he/ she may prescribe you antibiotics.
This procedure is followed by polishing the teeth with gritty toothpaste, flossing and the fluoride treatment just like in the regular dental cleaning process.
One of the major fallout of deep dental cleaning is that your teeth may become sensitive for a week to ten day and your mouth may pain for a few days. It is also possible for gums to become tender and bleed for a few days post the deep cleaning procedure. Other rare risks include nerve damage, gums not reattaching to teeth leading to gums receding more than before.
There are generally follow up visits needed at regular intervals to ensure that your gums have healed in the way expected.
If the healing is not as planned another deep cleaning session or a surgery may be advised. Surgery will allow the dentist to get to the hard to reach areas of the teeth and remove the plaque and tartar.
There are several benefits of deep dental cleaning process and these include the following –
- It stops the advancement of gum disease.
- Treats existing gum diseases and helps healing of the teeth.
- Helps protect the roots of the teeth besides cleaning them.
Both regular and deep dental cleanings are low risk procedures and very important to keep dental diseases especially gum diseases at bay. Most of these procedures are generally covered by the dental insurance and are not a burden on your pocket. Oral hygiene is critical to good dental and overall health.
Hope this blog has been able to bring out the major differences between a regular dental cleaning and a deep dental cleaning. You may still have queries regarding these two processes.
So we recommend that if you have more queries you can always call Ensure Dental Care (the family dentist near you) on 940-274-3229 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Ensure Dental Care is the one of the best family dental clinics at Saginaw Texas. We accept all major insurance providers. We also have in house payment plan. We have a very experienced team of dental practitioners and we look forward to serving you the best of our abilities.
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