Deep Teeth Cleaning for Better Gum Health

Deep teeth cleaning involves pulling back a patient’s gums so their teeth roots can be cleaned and polished. The rest of the person’s teeth are also cleaned to remove plaque and tartar deposits. Deep teeth cleaning is typically performed as a treatment for gum disease. The procedure might also be recommended for patients who have not had regular teeth cleanings in a while. Deep cleaning can help reverse the first stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, and it can also be used to manage the more advanced stage, called periodontitis.

What to expect when getting deep teeth cleaning

The procedure involves thoroughly removing tartar from teeth and their roots. Standard teeth cleaning only involves scrubbing the visible part of teeth, but the dentist does not clean their roots. During a deep teeth cleaning, the dentist removes tartar buildup in gum pockets and polishes uneven areas on teeth roots, making it harder for tartar to build up on them.

When a person has gum disease, tartar builds up inside their gum pockets, deepening them. The bacteria in the tartar trigger the body’s immune system response, sending antibodies to kill the invading bacteria. The clash leads to the chronic irritation and inflammation of gum tissues associated with gum disease. Over time, the inflammation damages gum tissues and bone structures in the mouth that hold teeth in place.

When left untreated, gum disease can lead to teeth falling out of their socket, and the condition has also been linked to serious health issues, like heart disease and diabetes. Deep cleanings are typically recommended when a patient’s gum tissues are deeper than three millimeters. A dental probe is used to determine the depth of their pockets.

The process

Deep teeth cleaning treatments are typically broken up into multiple visits to minimize the discomfort experienced by the patient afterward. This also allows the dentist to avoid having to numb the patient’s entire mouth. Patients might be asked to come in for a follow-up appointment so the dentist can evaluate their recovery.

A local anesthetic is administered so the area being worked on is numb. The dentist uses a metal scaler to remove tartar and plaque from teeth and their roots. Gum tissues covering teeth roots are pulled back so the roots can be polished. This reduces the depth of the patient’s gum pockets and makes it harder for tartar to stick to teeth roots.

Recovering from deep cleaning

Patients do not feel significant pain during the treatment, but their gums might feel sore once the anesthetic wears off. The soreness should go away in a few days, and it can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Dentists recommend sticking to soft, bland foods for the first few days after deep cleaning to avoid irritating tender gum tissues.

Protect your teeth with deep cleaning

Deep cleaning treatments can prevent the loss of teeth from gum disease. Give us a call or visit our Stoughton clinic to schedule an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://dentistryonpark.com or call Dentistry on Park, LLC at (781) 443-8131 for an appointment in our Stoughton office.

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