Key Takeaways: A routine cleaning may take between 30 minutes to an hour, while a deep cleaning or periodontal cleaning can take between one and two hours.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Following periodontal treatment, expect the treated area to be sore and tender to touch for 4-7 days. Swelling, discomfort, and bleeding may occur depending on the extent of the treatment and location in the mouth. BLEEDING & SWELLING: The treated area may bleed and be tender when you clean your teeth.
You dentist will give you a local anesthetic, either in the form of a gel or an injection, so you shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure. In the week or so after your treatment you may find that your gums feel sore and swollen, and your teeth may feel sensitive.
Your dentist, hygienist, or periodontist will use tools such as a dental scaler or an ultrasonic device with a vibrating tip to clear plaque and calculus from above and below the gum line. It's often described as a “rubbing” motion that's used to polish and smooth out rough spots on teeth.
Depending on the type of procedure, a range of things may take place. Most gum surgery procedures take around 2 hours to complete.
Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings (periodontal cleanings), usually four times a year. At these cleaning appointments, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy.
Will Treatment Hurt? You can expect some discomfort from periodontal treatment, but it will probably be much less than you fear.
Preparing for your deep teeth cleaning appointment
Clean the mouth before the appointment: Brushing teeth and disinfecting the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash helps reduce the risk of infection.
Once the numbness wears off and you can feel your tongue and lips again, you can eat! This may take a few hours though. It's important to be cautious with what you eat during the healing process. The last thing we want is a piece of popcorn or other hard food getting lodged in your gums.
Your gums and teeth will be sensitive immediately following your deep cleaning. Watch what you eat and avoid food or drink that may cause irritation. Hot or cold foods, hard or sharp foods, and anything that requires excessive chewing should be avoided for around 48 hours.
To ensure your comfort during your deep cleaning, your dentist will numb the treatment site before beginning. After you are numb you will feel pressure and vibration but will be free of pain for the procedure.
Periodontal maintenance is only needed for people who have periodontal disease, so if your oral health is in great shape, you won't need to get a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is performed to stop periodontal disease from advancing.
Those who do not follow proper dental care are especially prone to periodontal disease or gum disease. In the early stages, gum disease can be successfully reversed with professional deep cleaning treatments.
What does a deep cleaning entail? 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.
As far as the treated areas of the mouth, brush the surface of the teeth and avoid the gums as much as possible. We also recommend avoiding an electric toothbrush for a few weeks after the procedure, as this will make it easier to control the motions and avoid painful spots.
Yes, sensitivity in the mouth is common after a scaling and root planing procedure. This is a thorough procedure that targets bacteria below the gum line and aims to leave the smile bright, brilliant and brand new – which can cause some tenderness and soreness.
Any food or drink that is high in acid like tomatoes, citrus fruits, pickles, fruit juice and red wine are harsh on your mouth after a deep dental cleaning. Spicy and heavily seasoned foods may also cause your mouth some discomfort. Foods like hamburgers will cause you to open your mouth wider.
To reduce tenderness and promote healing, every two to three hours, rinse with warm salt water: ½ teaspoon salt in a 4 ounce glass of water. 2. Avoid brushing or flossing the treated area(s) for 12 hours. However, after 12 hours it is very important that you continue to brush very well.
You need to take the full course of antibiotics. Brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night. Use a toothbrush with soft, rounded-end bristles and a head that is small enough to reach all parts of your teeth and mouth. Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.
Unlike a normal, preventative cleaning, periodontal maintenance is a treatment prescribed to combat periodontal disease. It involves both scaling and root planing, meaning tartar must be removed from deep between the teeth and gums.
With gum disease, you won't keep your teeth for long. In fact, unlike tooth decay which impacts your smile one tooth at a time, periodontitis can cause you to lose multiple, if not all, teeth at once. Gum disease starts small as a mild form called gingivitis.
Periodontal treatment is very important. It does prevent tooth loss, which can be caused by periodontitis.
Depending on the case, cleaning the gum pockets takes about 1,5 to 2,5 hours. The aftercare takes about 30 minutes. Periodontal disease itself cannot be cured, but healing takes about a month after treatment.
Since periodontitis can do long-term damage to your gums, teeth, and jaw, the healing process for severe cases may take several months and may involve additional treatments like gum grafts.