WHY DO I NEED A DEEP CLEANING

September 05, 2022, Contident

IS DEEP TEETH CLEANING WORTH IT?

It’s not very often that you’ll need a deep cleaning unless you haven’t been to your dentist in a long time. What this means when a dentist mentions deep cleaning is very simple, it’s the removal of tartar and calculus on the upper portions of your teeth that are at the gum line. Calculus is what forms as tartar that hardens and becomes a calcified deposit on your teeth. It can cause inflammation and gun swelling and eventually destroys the enamel on your healthy teeth.

If left untreated, it will lead to painful gums, tooth enamel damage, and even the loss of a healthy tooth. This is why deep cleaning is better to be treated while the stages of early calculus are starting to become obvious.

HOW DOES THE DENTIST DETERMINE IF I NEED A DEEP CLEANING?

It won’t take more than a glance from your dentist to estimate what is needed for a deep tooth cleaning. The first step is to check with cleaning tools and use several methods to remove this build-up safely and effectively. The initial part of the exam will also include periodontal probing and inspection of your teeth. Measurements around each tooth are also inspected to estimate the level of build-up that has occurred.

This can further involve using X-rays to see if this build-up has affected the bones up inside your mouth that are covered with gum tissue.

• Clinical exam

What your dentist is keen on spotting are warning signs that include swelling or bleeding around the teeth. Other signs that they will look for are teeth that are starting to wiggle and move around. This can be a sure sign that there is bone loss around your teeth due to calculus that has eroded bone mass past your gum line.

• Periodontal probing

Your dentist makes calculated measurements around each tooth that is referred to as the ‘sulcus’ using a special tool which is called a Perio probe. This allows them to determine what ‘pocket depth’ is measuring 3 millimeters or less.

• X-rays

Another proven method that allows your dentist to see inside your teeth is by using the X-ray machine. Now with modern X-ray machines that create digital X-ray images of your teeth in minutes, they can easily see what kind of damage to the bone is present. This is based on the angle and depth of how much calculus is present and how much deep cleaning will be required. Based on these exams, your dentist will determine if you need a deep cleaning or not. This would mean that regular cleaning would not remedy this level of calcification of tartar.

DOES A DEEP CLEANING HURT?

Deep cleaning is not like a typical tooth cleaning since this requires that your dentist will need to clean under the gum line. This can cause discomfort and possibly pain for many who are sensitive to having their teeth worked on, so for this cleaning procedure, your dentist will numb the area that is being cleaned. This makes deep cleaning a painless treatment so any pressure that you feel or vibration from the tools that are used are less stressful while they do their work.

HOW LONG DOES A DEEP CLEANING TAKE?

This special cleaning does not take very long at all and averages 45 minutes at the most. Your dentist may also split the cleaning session into two separate visits to allow them to split that cleaning time for each side of your mouth. On most deep cleaning visits, only a single visit is required if the level of calculus is not so heavy.

WHAT BENEFITS WILL I EXPERIENCE AFTER A DEEP CLEANING?

It will be completely normal to have some discomfort after having your teeth deep cleaned. You will need some time to allow your gums to heal and teeth that may be sensitive for less than a day or so. Once your gum line has had time to heal, many benefits will start to become very obvious right away. These include:

• There is less bleeding from your gums whenever brushing or flossing

• Your breath is smelling fresher

• Your gums will look less puffy and irritated-looking and appear healthier

• You will not experience mouth aches or pains so often

• You have prevented the loss of bone around your teeth

Get in contact with us for a Free consultation. We will come back to you as soon as possible, in a few hours.

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