A deep teeth cleaning should take between 1-4 hours. First, your hygienist will numb you by injecting a local anesthetic. Sometimes, the hygienist will need one hour per quadrant to do the proper scaling and root planing of all the root surfaces in one quadrant.
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.
There are two main reasons why dentists prefer splitting root scaling and planing treatments into multiple sessions. The first reason is to avoid numbing the patient's entire mouth. The effect of a local anesthetic lingers for hours after getting injected.
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.
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.
Immediately after a deep cleaning you might have some discomfort and aching. After your mouth has had some time to heal you should notice some of the following improvements: Decreased bleeding when brushing and flossing. Better smelling breath.
Start brushing, flossing, and continue your prescribed oral hygiene regime immediately. You may have to GO EASY at first, but make every effort to keep your mouth plaque-free. We recommend rinsing your mouth several times on the day of treatment, with warm salt water (¼ tsp salt to glass of water).
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.
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.
Although deep teeth cleanings are uncomfortable, you will likely not experience severe discomfort because you receive local anesthesia or topical anesthetic to numb your gums. However, you can expect some sensitivity to the procedure with swelling and minor bleeding.
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.
You will be awake throughout the process, and while you'll feel some pressure and movement in your mouth as we work, you won't feel any pain. There are two steps to deep cleaning. Your dentist will first scale your teeth with a hand instrument, such as a periodontal scaler or curette, or an ultrasonic tool.
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.
Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Wait at least two hours before eating, and then select a soft diet for the first 48-72 hours, chewing on the opposite side of your mouth. Avoid alcoholic drinks and hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed.
Dental deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, involves special techniques to get rid of plaque, tartar, and bacteria below the gum line down to your tooth roots. This prevents gum disease from advancing and causing tooth loss.
The good news is you don't have to wait long. You can eat as soon as you feel ready to do so. But this is if you only had a deep dental cleaning. If your dentist did a cleaning and a fluoride treatment, you'll have to wait for at least thirty minutes.
In most situations, the anesthesia your dentist uses will numb the tooth for 1 to 2 hours. Additionally, the following 3 to 5 hours may leave your lips, face, and tongue numb, which can be frustrating if you're attempting to return to normal activities immediately following your appointment.
For some, the “weird” feeling may be a sense of cleanliness by not having a film of plaque on their teeth. For others, they may experience temporary tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity most often occurs after a dentist performs a deep cleaning which involves more contact with a patient's gums than regular cleaning.
A deep dental cleaning is necessary when there is a significant amount of bacteria and tartar buildup on the surfaces of your teeth. Once pockets form from gum disease, the bacteria and tartar begin to fill these pockets. If not removed, periodontal disease and eventually tooth loss can take place.
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.