What is a deep cleaning?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we get in dentistry. A deep cleaning isn't just a more aggressive normal cleaning. A prophy, or a normal cleaning, is a cleaning for healthy gums. When we talk about a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, we're talking about treating gums affected by periodontal disease.
We're going more thoroughly below your gums and along your root surfaces to clean up the bacteria, tartar, and buildup underneath your gums that's contributing to inflammation.
How do you determine if I need a deep cleaning?
We recommend a dental deep cleaning depending on the condition of your gums. That's why you'll see us measuring the pockets around your teeth, taking X-rays to check for bone loss, and evaluating the amount of tartar and buildup around and underneath your gums.
We take all the information from our exam, X-rays, and hygienist's evaluation and put that together to make an appropriate plan for your gum health.
What are the signs that I might need a deep cleaning?
There are many signs that can tell you that your gums aren't doing their best. Bleeding when you're flossing or brushing, discomfort in your teeth or gums, or teeth becoming a little bit mobile can all be signs that something is going on with your gum health.
But the main thing is that sometimes you can have absolutely no pain or discomfort and still have periodontal disease. That's why we do the tests and evaluation of your gums to figure out what's going on and determine if a deep cleaning is needed.
What happens during a deep cleaning?
During a deep cleaning, depending on how many teeth or areas of your mouth need treatment, normally what we'll do is have you come in and get you numb so you're comfortable as we're going below your gums to clean the root surfaces and remove bacteria and tartar.
What can I expect after a deep cleaning?
Usually after the cleaning, you might experience a little bit of soreness, which is very common. As your gums respond to treatment, you may notice less bleeding and inflammation and an improvement in the health of the gum tissue.
What are the benefits of a deep cleaning?
If you have periodontal or gum disease and you're in need of a deep cleaning, there is bacteria and tartar below the gumline that can contribute to inflammation and loss of the bone supporting your teeth.
The main benefit of this deeper cleaning is to remove that buildup from the root surfaces and help manage the periodontal disease. Our goal is to reduce inflammation and help limit further damage to the tissues and bone supporting your teeth.
Are there any side effects after a deep cleaning?
There can be some temporary side effects after a deep cleaning. You may experience a little bit of soreness or tenderness after treatment. As you can imagine, we're cleaning thoroughly underneath your gums, and those tissues may already be inflamed.
You may also experience some temporary sensitivity as the gums begin to heal. We'll let you know what to expect based on the areas we're treating and give you instructions for taking care of your gums afterward.
Why might I see more spaces between my teeth after a deep cleaning?
This can be pretty surprising for patients when they see it. When you come into our office, your gums may be inflamed and swollen, and there may also be calculus or tartar underneath the gums.
As we do the deep cleaning and the inflammation begins to decrease, the gum tissue can become less swollen and fit more closely around the teeth. Because of that change, you may notice spaces between your teeth that weren't as visible before treatment.
Will insurance cover a deep cleaning?
Dental insurance may provide coverage for a deep cleaning, but it depends on your individual plan and the areas of your mouth that need treatment. After we do our evaluation and determine which areas need a deep cleaning, we can review the expected costs and your available insurance benefits with you.
What results should I expect from a deep cleaning?
The main results we're looking for are better management of the periodontal disease, with less inflammation and bleeding and healthier gum tissue. As we talked about before, you may also see more space between some of your teeth as swollen gum tissue decreases after treatment.
We'll continue to monitor your gums after the deep cleaning to see how they're responding and determine what type of ongoing periodontal maintenance you may need.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (720) 797-5554 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.