The dentist or hygienist will use special instruments to clean below the gum line during a deep dental cleaning. They will also scale (remove tartar) and root plane (smooth the roots of the teeth). Deep dental cleaning is usually performed in two visits. The first visit will involve scaling and root planing.
Does a deep cleaning hurt? Since deep cleanings are more thorough, and go further below the gumline than regular cleanings, they can potentially cause some discomfort or pain. To ensure your comfort during your deep cleaning, your dentist will numb the treatment site before beginning.
In scaling, your periodontist will use a hand-held dental scaler to manually scrape the plaque from your teeth above and below your gum line. They may also use an ultrasonic tool with a vibrating metal tip, plus a water spray to wash tartar away.
Scaling and root planing are otherwise known as deep cleaning in dentistry. The procedure gets rid of tartar (hardened minerals) that can adhere to your teeth. You may need these treatments if you have periodontitis (advanced gum disease).
Deep cleaning typically doesn't require numbing your mouth; the dentist will decide whether to numb your mouth based on the condition of your teeth's roots and the depth of the pockets. If you do feel any discomfort or pain, let your dentist know.
Within a week the gums will start to heal and reattach to the roots of the teeth. The initial discomfort should be gone. Full recovery and reattachment can take up to 6 or 8 weeks, but patients are usually back to normal eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing within the first week.
On average, it takes about 5 – 7 days for your gums to heal after deep cleaning. During this period, it's possible to experience minor gum soreness, swelling, and tooth sensitivity.
Deep Teeth Cleaning Cost
A deep cleaning at the dentist is also called scaling and planing. This is different from the regular cleaning you get twice a year. It is a deeper cleaning that goes under your gums to prevent or cure gum disease. Dental deep cleaning may cost $150 to $350 if you don't have dental insurance.
Is Scaling and Root Planing Painful? No! There is no obvious pain associated with scaling and root planing; however, you may feel some discomfort during the process depending upon your teeth sensitivity. It can still be combated via some local anesthesia.
Following a deep cleaning, your teeth may be more sensitive than usual. This can last for up to several weeks. You may also experience some slight swelling or bruising. Icing the area can help with this, but please notify us if you experience any major swelling.
Gum grafting main county can be a totally PAINLESS experience during the procedure due to local anesthetics. Although there may be some discomfort associated with having a gum graft AFTER the procedure, your periodontist will do everything they can to make your experience as painless as possible.
Whilst a routine hygienist cleaning will clean around the teeth and gum line, a deep clean, or root planing, is used when the bacteria has become a problem further down the tooth, sometimes reaching the root of the tooth and the surrounding bone tissue.
Deep cleaning removes the build-up of tartar below the gum line. The treatment is done under local anesthetic. It does not hurt but the gums can feel sore afterwards.
Deep cleaning is a common dental procedure that will not cause your teeth to become loose and certainly won't lead to them falling out. On the contrary, a deep cleaning is instrumental in stopping the progression of gum disease and restoring your gums to health.
Clean the mouth before the appointment: Brushing teeth and disinfecting the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash helps reduce the risk of infection. Bacteria is transferred into the patient's blood during the procedure, so keeping bacteria populations in the mouth to a minimum lowers the risk of infection.
The disadvantages of deep cleaning teeth include nerve damage and potential infections if you have a compromised immune system. The cleaning might cause pain, and sensitivity in the treatment doesn't guarantee reattachment of your gums to the teeth. The cleaning might even cause further gum recession.
The American Dental Association recommends you see your dentist at least once a year for deep cleaning. If you have a history of gum disease, you should get your teeth cleaned twice a year to prevent infections or complications.
Infection after dental cleaning
The process of dental cleaning can sometimes make your gums bleed slightly. Although it is rare, this can sometimes cause an infection to develop in the days after the procedure.
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, and suffer from bone loss, inflammation, and/or tartar has accumulated beneath the gumline, then the hygienist will need to clean 'deeper' below the gumline, and this is often known as a dental deep cleaning.
While a deep cleaning will remove the bacteria and tartar below the gums where you are unable to reach, placing localized antibiotics in these areas enhances healing. A deep cleaning alone cannot fight off the bacteria that can work its way back down into these deeper areas as the gums are healing.
So, How Long Does a Deep Cleaning Take? The process for a deep teeth cleaning usually requires more than one visit. On average, you can assume that your dentist or highly skilled hygienist will be able to clean ¼ of your mouth in about 45-60 minutes or so, depending on the level of plaque and hardened calculus buildup.
Can deep cleanings be done in one visit? Yes, but we do not recommend it. Deep cleaning of the entire mouth in one visit is usually discouraged for three reasons. Anesthetic – If local anesthetic is used to make the procedure painless, treating the entire mouth would require anesthesia of the entire mouth.
For the first 24 hours, it is good to avoid sharp foods such as nuts or popcorn, which can get caught in the tissue area and hinder healing. For the first 48 hours, it is good to avoid acidic foods such as oranges and salsa. It is also good to avoid hot foods and beverages.
The depth of cleaning required to eliminate plaque from beneath your gum line will likely mean that your gums begin bleeding during treatment. When you return home from receiving a teeth cleaning, you might experience some minor bleeding from your gums.