A deep teeth cleaning, also referred to as gum therapy, may be recommended in dental care to clean the gums and teeth down to the roots. While regular teeth cleaning is a form of preventative maintenance, a deep cleaning can treat gum disease.
Deep cleaning may be necessary when a patient does not have regular professional cleanings or when a patient has deep pockets between the gum and tooth. Many patients only require one deep teeth cleaning, followed by regular professional cleanings. The necessity of a deep cleaning depends on the patient's oral health.
When a person eats food, the particles mix with saliva and create bacteria that sticks to the teeth. This sticky film is known as plaque. Brushing teeth can help remove some of the plaque between teeth, but a toothbrush cannot eliminate all of it. When plaque is left on the teeth, it begins to calcify and forms tartar. Accumulating tartar leads to gum disease.
Gum disease includes gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums. Untreated gingivitis becomes periodontitis, an infection that can eat away the bone that supports a patient's teeth. Gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating deep pockets. When a patient has deep pockets in the mouth, deep cleaning is necessary.
Before the deep teeth cleaning, the dentist performs an examination. A dentist can physically examine the patient's teeth or use X-rays to analyze the state of the mouth. A deep cleaning may take two or more visits, with each visit taking about one to two hours.
There are two parts to a deep cleaning: scaling and root planing. Scaling occurs when the dentist removes all of the tartar and plaque above the gumline and below it. Root planing involves smoothing the patient's teeth roots so the gums can reattach.
While patients cannot reverse gum disease, they can get treatments and take action to help prevent progression. Ignoring periodontitis can result in tooth loss, receding gums, alveolar bone loss, and loose teeth. Healthy gums protect the tooth's roots, and so gum disease can make it harder to treat decay.
Patients with a current infection may benefit from a deep teeth cleaning. A cleaning treats the infection and allows the gums to heal. It also protects the roots of the individual's teeth. Without a deep cleaning, patients with gum disease may suffer from bad breath. The cleaning rids the mouth of bacteria and helps with halitosis.
Gum disease and dental decay can lead to gum sensitivity, tooth loss, and bone loss. If a patient has gum disease, a deep cleaning can help the individual treat the symptoms of the disease and slow the progression. A deep teeth cleaning allows the dentist to access hard-to-reach places below the gumline. How often a patient should schedule a deep cleaning depends on the patient's dental health and the dentist's recommendations.
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