Deep cleaning, also called gum therapy or scaling, is a dental treatment that involves cleaning between the gums and teeth, including the tooth roots. Just like regular teeth cleaning, deep cleaning involves the dental hygienist cleaning the sides of the teeth, gum line and each tooth. It also involves removing accumulated tartar below the gum line to the teeth root.
Deep cleaning usually requires several dental visits to complete the treatment, and it is more extensive than the standard teeth cleaning. Carrying out deep teeth cleaning helps to treat gum disease and prevent the condition from getting worse.
What is the difference between a regular dental cleaning and deep teeth cleaning?
The mouth always contains bacteria and plaque, so dental professionals recommend brushing and flossing to reduce them. Having regular dental exams and teeth cleaning helps to remove accumulated plaque on the teeth.
In most cases, plaque accumulates close to the gum line, where most people forget to clean daily. Over time, plaque hardens to form tartar on the teeth, which can only be removed by a dental hygienist during a dental cleaning.
If you do not brush your teeth regularly or are genetically predisposed to gum disease, you will likely show signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis symptoms include swollen, red and bleeding gums.
If you do not get the right treatment for gingivitis and take proper care of your teeth, it may develop into periodontitis, an infection of the bone and gums supporting the teeth – this may lead to tooth loss.
To know if bacteria have infected your gums, you need pocket depth readings and x-rays. If you show signs of gum infection, you will need interceptive gum therapy to prevent the condition from progressing.
Deep cleaning and regular dental cleaning serve different purposes. Regular dental cleaning is preventive dental care, while deep cleaning aims to stop the advancement of infection to periodontitis.
Why do I need deep teeth cleaning?
Your hygienist or dentist can tell you why you need deep teeth cleaning, depending on your dental condition. If your dental check-up identifies pockets over 4mm deep, it means you are at risk of developing periodontal disease, which makes you a candidate for deep teeth cleaning.
Your dentist may recommend deep teeth cleaning to help you prevent the early stages of gum disease from developing into a more severe problem. Without treatment, the bacteria in your gum pockets will continue to accumulate plaque and tartar. Subsequently, you will experience bone loss, and the affected tooth will become loose and eventually fall out.
Many people experience gum diseases at some point in their lives, so it is a common dental condition. However, they receive the right care, preventing the infection from reaching advanced stages that result in tooth loss.
If your dentist or hygienist has recommended a deep cleaning, you have nothing to worry about because, with proper dental care and treatment, you can get rid of the bacteria in your mouth.
For your teeth cleaning in London, visit www.dentalhygienist.london or call 020 3137 5055 to book an appointment with experienced hygienist.
