Regular deep dental cleaning is essential for preventing bad breath and protecting against gum disease. To maintain a healthy mouth, it’s recommended to brush and floss regularly and visit a dentist twice a year to keep your teeth free of germs.
Sometimes, a dentist might recommend a deep dental cleaning if they notice issues such as bleeding gums, receding gums, loose teeth, cavities, or tooth decay. The process involves removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums.
Let’s explore what you can expect from a deep cleaning procedure. Here, we shall take a look at the cost, procedure, and other important details.
A] What Is Deep Dental Cleaning?
Deep dental cleaning is a technique used by hygienists to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria below the gum line and around the roots of your teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Your dentist might recommend this treatment if you have heavy plaque, bacterial infections, or specific gum diseases.
The procedure involves using a hand scaler to scrape off plaque and tartar from teeth and below the gum line. Dentists use ultrasonic tools with metal tips and water spray to remove tartar. Sometimes dentists might even prescribe antibiotics to prevent further issues. Deep cleaning often requires two appointments to complete.
B] Signs You Need Deep Dental Cleaning
During routine dental cleanings, the periodontist assesses your teeth and gums. If they find any issues, they may recommend deep dental cleaning. Be alert to signs that might indicate a need for further evaluation:
- Bleeding gums: You might experience bleeding when brushing or flossing, often due to germs or bacteria.
- Red, swollen, or tender gums: These are common signs of inflammation or infection on teeth gums.
- Receding gums: Gums that pull away from the teeth can indicate gum disease.
- Loose teeth: This can be a sign of advanced gum disease or other dental issues.
- Bad breath: Persistent bad breath may be linked to bacterial infections or gum disease.
- Pus around teeth and gums: This can signal an infection or abscess.
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth: A persistent bad taste may indicate an underlying issue.
- Pain when chewing: Discomfort while eating could be a sign of gum or tooth problems.
- Tooth sensitivity: Increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods may suggest gum disease or enamel erosion.
C] Deep Dental Cleaning Procedure
Deep dental cleaning is a crucial treatment for gum disease, also known as scaling and root planing. Here’s a complete breakdown of how it works:
1. Preparations Before The Deep Clean
The procedure starts with a thorough oral examination and dental X-rays to assess your gum health. If you are taking any medications or have medical conditions, you should consult with your dentist before proceeding with the deep cleaning treatments.
2. What Happens During Deep Cleaning?
There are two main procedures involved in the deep cleaning process.
- Scaling: Your dentist will utilise specific instruments like ultrasonic scalers and hand scalers to remove plaque as well as tartar below the gumline. These tools work well to dissolve and remove the build up allowing a more efficient cleaning of the dirty lines.
- Root planing: This process makes the roots of your teeth smooth so that gums can reattach and bacterial growth is minimised. Usually, the procedure is done by numbing you with the help of a local anaesthetic so it does not hurt.
3. Aftercare Of Deep Cleaning
After your deep teeth cleaning treatment, you may feel a bit sensitive, swollen, or a little discomfort. To help this situation, you can practise regular teeth brushing and flossing, which are important aftercare of deep dental cleaning.
Additionally, you need to avoid some hard foods as per the specific care instructions from your dentist. The dentist shall also schedule some follow-up appointments to keep an eye on the healing of your gums so they heal properly.
D] Benefits Of Deep Cleaning Teeth
From thoroughly cleaning your teeth and gum to treating any diseases; deep cleaning teeth offers many benefits. Here’s a list of the potential benefits.
1. Prevents Gum Diseases
A teeth deep cleaning procedure helps to remove build-up on your teeth or under the gum line eventually leading to gum disease.
It also helps prevent other health conditions such as plaque build-up. Plaque build-up is the primary reason behind gum disease. It can travel to the bloodstream and can increase the risk of developing other conditions like heart disease and stroke in patients.
2. Reduces The Risk Of Tooth Loss
The bacteria associated with teeth or gum disease can cause deep pockets between teeth and gums. These pockets begin to move away from one another, potentially leading to tooth loss.
3. Promotes Healing
The deep cleaning procedure removes the bacteria in tartar, which is extremely harmful and irritating to your gums. Once removed, your gums will start healing or reattaching to your teeth. It helps in preventing tooth loss and other diseases.
4. Eliminates Bad Breath
Plaque ticked on your gums and teeth causes bad breath and cavities after mixing up the saliva with the food you are having, further harbouring bacteria and leading to bad breath.
5. Cosmetic Benefits
A white smile is what adds dental aesthetics to your personality. Deep teeth cleaning helps achieve a cleaner, whiter smile, boosting our self-confidence and appearance. It not only thoroughly cleans your mouth but also stains. Eventually, you get a healthier and brighter looking smile.
6. Maintains Overall Oral Hygiene
Deep cleaning teeth is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene. The treatment removes plaque and tartar that regular brushing cannot reach, thereby preventing gum disease and tooth decay. This thorough cleaning keeps your gums healthy, breath fresh, and your mouth clean
E] Cost Of Deep Dental Cleaning
The cost of extensive cleaning depends on the severity of gum disease or inflammation. Generally, you will need 2 sittings to remove plaque and tartar or to treat other gum diseases. However, in some cases, 4 sittings may be required depending on the dental issue.
During the cleaning process, the mouth is divided into four quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left), and each quadrant is treated independently. The cost for each quadrant ranges from INR 800 to 1500, depending on your region and the dentist you see.
Conclusion
A deep dental cleaning promotes teeth and gum health by getting rid of bad breath and bacteria. It might also have some minor risks, so it is important to understand the possible outcomes before processing with the deep dental cleaning process.
After a safe, deep cleaning, you can expect to experience some sensitivity and swelling afterward. If you face these outcomes for a little longer, it is recommended to visit your dentist. To get more details about the deep dental cleaning side effects outcomes, you can contact a dentist in Sunshine Coast any time.
FAQs
Q) What do I need to know about deep teeth cleaning?
Ans: Before opting for deep dental cleaning, it’s important to understand the procedure, outcomes, and potential costs. Additionally, it’s crucial to know when a person should consider the procedure based on their specific dental issues. Being informed will help you make the best decision for your oral health.
Q) What is the distinction between a professional dental cleaning and a deep cleaning?
Ans: A professional teeth cleaning focuses on removing tartar or plaque from above the gum line and ensuring your teeth or mouth are thoroughly cleaned. However, deep cleaning targets cleaning below the gum line and ensures that your teeth and gums are free of disease.
Q) How does dental deep cleaning vary from routine cleanings?
Ans: Dental deep cleaning goes beyond regular cleaning by targeting plaque and tartar buildup below the gum line, addressing gum disease, and promoting overall gum health. Regular cleaning focuses on removing surface plaque and tartar above the gum line for general oral hygiene.
Q) Is deep dental cleaning painful?
Ans: Dental cleanings might be a little uncomfortable, especially if you have gum disease or sensitive gums. However, if it causes some pain, dentists use local anaesthesia to minimise discomfort and ensure the procedure is as comfortable as possible. You might experience some soreness or tenderness afterward, but it should subside within a few days.
Q) How long does dental cleaning take?
Ans: The deep dental cleaning process can be a bit lengthy, as it involves gum scaling and root planing for thorough cleaning. Each visit typically lasts between 1 to 2 hours.
Dr. Adarsh Pisharodi
Dr. Adarsh Pisharodi, serving as the principal dentist at Oris Dental, brings a wealth of expertise spanning over 26 years to his esteemed practice. Specializing in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and orthodontics, he takes immense pride in rejuvenating countless smiles and instilling confidence in Sunshine Coast residents. As an esteemed member of the Australian Dental Association and esteemed dental societies, he remains steadfast in delivering exceptional care to his patients.
