A deep dental cleaning is necessary when there is a significant amount of bacteria and tartar buildup on the surface of the teeth. Once pockets form due to gum disease, bacteria and tartar begin to fill them. If it is not removed, periodontal disease and, eventually, tooth loss can occur. Only your dentist or dental hygienist can tell you for sure.
If your visit to the dentist reveals significant pockets (4 mm or larger), then you are at risk of suffering from (or being in stages of) periodontal disease. This makes you a candidate for therapy (a thorough dental cleaning) and is highly recommended if you want to stop and prevent the progression of the disease. Without treatment, the bacteria that created the bags in the gums will continue to create plaque, tartar, and even bone loss. While it's far from the most fun way to spend an hour, scraping and smoothing roots is a necessary treatment for advanced gum disease.
The early stages are called gingivitis, when bacteria that live in plaque along the gums release toxins. These toxins trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation. The gums become red and swollen and bleed easily. It's like having a tight sleeve on a shirt, Vera Tang, professor of periodontics at New York University explains.
If you don't clean the dirt regularly, the collar stretches more and more and the dirt gets deeper and deeper. Deep cleaning is not necessary for all patients. However, for patients with gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease) or a more serious case of gum disease, deep cleaning may be necessary to prevent tooth loss and prevent further damage. If the pockets are deeper than can be treated with standard cleaning and good home care, you'll need a deep cleaning to eliminate the infection and promote healing.
In general, the goal of regular cleaning is preventive maintenance and the goal of deep dental cleaning is to stop the progression of gum disease. If you're looking for a periodontal dentist or implant dentist, Santa Monica Dental Practice, Santa Monica Periodontics & Implant Surgery offers dental implants, gum grafts, scraping, root smoothing and more. A deep dental cleaning, sometimes called gum therapy, is a treatment that cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. Gingivitis will usually go away once the dental hygienist scrapes off plaque during regular cleaning and you take care to be more disciplined with brushing and flossing. When a dental professional refers to deep teeth cleaning, they often work with patients who have problems with gum disease.
So what else does deep cleaning entail than the difference from regular cleaning? Is it worth talking to the dentist about deep cleaning your teeth? Let's discuss the pros and cons to get a better idea of the advantages and disadvantages of each one. If bacteria invade below the gum line, you'll need a thorough dental cleaning to restore gum health.