Deep Cleaning
What is a deep cleaning?
A deep cleaning is a specific treatment done to clean between the gums and teeth and down to the roots, in order to treat severe gum disease known as periodontitis. Having a deep cleaning done is more meticulous and thorough than a normal dental cleaning.
Gum disease occurs when there is an access of plague and bacteria on your teeth and gums, which can cause the gums to become inflamed and swollen. Too much bacteria around your gums can cause the gum line to separate from the teeth, causing pockets to form that bacteria can enter. By having a deep cleaning done will remove all the plague and tartar above and below the gum lines, and at the roots of the tooth as well. This will help to align your teeth and gums back into their proper position.
What is the difference between a regular and a deep cleaning?
Sarah Cohen, RDH explains the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning in this video.
What is done during a deep cleaning?
A deep cleaning is usually prescribed by our dentists when gum disease has been left untreated and has become severe. A deep cleaning is the treatment for the more advanced form of gum disease, called periodontitis, which if left untreated could possibly lead to tooth loss. This deep cleaning process is known as Scaling and Root Planing.
- Scaling is when plague and tartar are removed from below the gum line and from the pockets that have been created.
- Root Planing is when the tooth the tooth roots have been smoothed using a scaling tool, and the gums can start to reattach to the tooth. Smoothing the surfaces and the roots removes and prevents bacteria that can get trapped, allowing for the pockets to close and the gums to reattach to the tooth.
If you have bleeding or sore gums, or would like to learn more about deep cleanings, give our office a call at (619) 334-8743 and one of our helpful staff members will be happy to assist you further.
