It is common and encouraged for you to give your house or your car a deep cleaning on a periodic basis. You may also have heard the term “deep cleaning” from your dentist. When it comes to your teeth, however, a deep cleaning isn’t just a more thorough version of a routine dental cleaning. In fact, it may not even be recommended for all patients. While a regular dental cleaning is suggested every six months as a means to prevent disease and decay, a “deep cleaning” is used to treat disease that is already present.
A deep cleaning is also referred to as “scaling and root planing.” It is the treatment of choice to address mild to moderate gum disease. If you are suffering from symptoms such as red, puffy or bleeding gums, you may benefit from a deep cleaning to reverse these early signs of gum disease. If you are experiencing more advanced stages of periodontal disease, such as receding gums or loose teeth, a deep cleaning can save your smile by giving your gums the chance to return to optimal health.
Unlike a regular teeth cleaning that involves removing plaque and debris from the teeth and polishing the surface of your smile, a deep cleaning involves going below the gumline. During a scaling and root planing, we can remove disease-causing bacteria in the deep pockets of gum tissue that have formed due to gum disease. We also clean and smooth out the surface of the tooth roots so that bacteria can’t continue to grow and the gums can reattach. Gum disease is essentially an infection within the soft tissues that support your teeth, so a deep cleaning is the means to eradicate the infection and support healing. If left untreated, gum disease leads to tooth loss and many other serious health problems that have been linked to chronic oral disease.
Has your dentist suggested that you get a deep cleaning? It’s not an offer for a “Deluxe Car Wash” rather than a “Basic Car Wash” for your teeth. What it means is that you are presenting with signs of gum disease and a deep cleaning is your first line of therapy. Therefore, a deep cleaning is not an optional treatment and should not be delayed.
To learn more about a deep cleaning for your smile and why you may need it, please call Gilreath Dental Associates!
Posted on behalf of Dr. Paul Gilreath IV,