Only your dentist or dental hygienist can tell you for sure if deep tooth cleaning is worth it. If your visit to the dentist reveals pockets of 4 mm or larger, then you are at risk of suffering from periodontal disease. This makes you a candidate for therapy, which is 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 pockets in the gums will continue to create plaque, tartar, and even bone loss.
A deep dental cleaning is necessary when there is a significant amount of bacteria and tartar accumulation 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. Gum disease is a preventable infection of the mouth that can damage the gum tissue above and around the teeth if left untreated.
Periodontitis can even damage your jaw and teeth if left too long. While many believe that regular dental cleanings and deep cleanings are the same thing, there are some significant differences between the two treatments. The main purpose of regular dental cleanings is to remove plaque and calculus that build up around and slightly below the gum line. That's why it's important to brush and floss your teeth regularly, and visit a dentist twice a year for routine dental cleanings.
When a dental professional refers to deep teeth cleaning, they often work with patients who have problems with gum disease. 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. A deep dental cleaning, sometimes called gum therapy, is a treatment that cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. This type of cleaning is necessary when there is an excessive amount of bacteria and tartar buildup on the surface of the teeth. The scraping and smoothing of roots is a necessary treatment for advanced gum disease. 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 tooth cleaning is highly recommended if you want to stop and prevent periodontal disease from progressing further. Without treatment, bacteria will continue to create plaque, tartar, and even bone loss. Regular dental cleanings are important for removing plaque and calculus that build up around and slightly below the gum line.