Category: Dental Cleaning

Is Deep Dental Cleaning Necessary?

You may think deep cleaning is something you must do yourself carefully. However, it is a procedure that needs to be performed by a dentist or a dental hygienist. This procedure may become necessary for those who have gum disease or periodontal disease. A deep cleaning may also be recommended if the person hasn’t had a regular dental checkup for a long while. In this blog, we will learn about deep dental cleaning and whether it is a necessity. 

What Is Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Dental professionals call it by the name gum scaling and root planing. It is a dental procedure in which not only the teeth and gums are cleaned but also down to the roots. It differs from a standard dental cleaning during regular dental checkups. In a standard dental cleaning, the dentist will clean the teeth’ front, back and sides above the gumline. In deep teeth cleaning, the same processes are performed. But in addition to it, the dentist also cleans the root of the tooth below the gum line to remove the plaque and tartar that has accumulated over time between the root of the teeth and gums. The presence of gum disease makes the space between the teeth and gums open up, leading to the accumulation of plaque and tartar. 

Deep cleaning usually requires two visits. During the first appointment, gum scaling will be performed, and in the second appointment, root planing will be performed. The dentist may administer local anesthesia to numb the mouth during both of these procedures. You will have to go for follow-up visits to ensure the healing process is taking place properly, as expected. 

Is a Thorough Cleaning Required?

The dentist may recommend deep teeth cleaning depending on your oral health. The dentist will examine your teeth and gums if the dentist finds out that the gum disease has progressed beyond a point or if gingivitis has led to the pulling away from the teeth. Gingivitis can create pockets or spaces that are more than five millimeters deep, and deep teeth cleaning is prescribed as a procedure that is done right before the need for periodontal surgery. Gingivitis, if left untreated, could affect the bone and supporting structures of the teeth and cause tooth loss. Deep teeth cleaning is crucial in limiting the progression of gingivitis gum disease.

How Is Deep Cleaning Carried Out?

The deep teeth cleaning process is carried out in two stages. The first stage is gum or periodontal scaling and the second stage is root planing. The dentist may use either electric or ultrasonic instruments or a manual scaling tool. The dentist may even use a combination of both tools. The first visit is for the scaling of teeth, whereas the second visit is for root planing. During the teeth scaling, tartar and plaque are removed from below the gum line. However, in the root planing procedure, the tooth’s root is cleaned and smoothened. Thus the gums can be reattached to the tooth, and the size of the pockets can be reduced, thus limiting the possibility of unhealthy plaque build-up. A scaling instrument is used for removing plaque and tartar from the roots of the teeth. Thus deep cleaning plays a crucial role in preventing gum diseases from worsening and avoids the need for surgery or any other extensive dental procedures. 

What Happens After a Deep Cleaning Procedure?

It would be best if you were extra careful with your teeth and gums. It would be best if you tried to keep them as clean as possible. Do not forget to take any medications as prescribed by the dentist. You should always remember that extensive treatment may be required if deep cleaning cannot reverse the course of gingivitis progression.

Summary

Maintaining good oral hygiene is the best way to avoid deep teeth cleaning procedures. Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly and going for regular dental checkups at least twice a year can prevent you from getting affected with cavities, gum disease or periodontal disease etc. Consult the dentist for any questions regarding the importance of deep teeth cleaning, and make sure you attend follow-up appointments to enjoy healthy teeth and gums.    

Preventative Dental Treatment in Kingwood

For healthy teeth and a beautiful smile, preventative care is essential. Instruction, treatment, and proper oral hygiene routine are part of preventive dental treatments. Cavities, enamel wear, and gingivitis are all prevented with these procedures. Schedule an appointment with a Kingwood dentist. 

Dental Treatments for Preventive Care

A Comprehensive Oral Exam: 

The dentist will perform a comprehensive oral examination during your dental appointment, which may include any of the following:

Oral Cancer Screening:

The dentist will look for signs of oral cancer in the areas of your neck, lips, tongue, face, throat, gums, and tissues.

X-rays (radiographs) diagnose tumors, cysts, decay, and bone loss. Dentists also use X-rays to locate roots and teeth during surgeries.

Gum disease examination:

Your dentist may perform a periodontal disease examination on the gums and bones surrounding your teeth.

Recent restorations will also be examined for possible defects if you have had fillings, crowns, or implants.

Cleansing and Oral Hygiene

Dental cleaning is usually included as part of preventative dental treatment.

Plaque is a slimy, pale film of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. The bacteria are toxic, and unless they are removed, they can lead to cavities and gum inflammation.

Tartar removal:

Tartar is a calcified plaque that forms on the tooth’s surface. It usually develops beneath or above the gum line and can only be removed using specialized dental tools.

Teeth polishing:

When performed by a qualified dentist, polishing removes stains and plaque from the teeth, making them appear cleaner.

Dental Sealants 

Dental sealants can help protect your teeth from decay if they are applied correctly. A dental sealant is a thin sheet of plastic applied to the grooves of the teeth, most commonly the back teeth, because they are used for chewing. The sealant protects food debris and bacteria that cause tooth cavities.

The dentist will use air abrasion to remove stains to clean your teeth thoroughly. It only takes 30 minutes to an hour to apply dental sealants. After that, the teeth’s surface will be abraded to ensure that the sealant adheres well to it.

The sealant will be applied to the grooves after drying the teeth’ surface. The dentist will then harden the sealant, fusing it solidly to the teeth for maximum protection, using a laser or ultraviolet light. When the sealant passes the dentist’s final examination, the procedure is complete.

Education on Home Care

Preventing oral health issues necessitates at-home care. Your health depends on your oral health. The Kingwood dentist will discuss what oral hygiene measures you should take at home during your appointments.

Treatment of Fluoride

Fluoride is a cost-effective way to keep your teeth and gums healthy in the future, avoiding costly procedures. Fluoride strengthens teeth by remineralizing deteriorated areas of the enamel. Prevent tooth decay; it also prevents bacteria from producing acids.

Fluoride treatment can be completed in just one dental visit.

Please contact our dental office in Kingwood, TX, if you have any additional questions or concerns, and our Kingwood staff will be happy to assist you.

Why would you Need a Professional Dental Cleaning?

Dental cleaning might seem to be the simplest purpose of a visit to your dentist. But it is one of the most important ones! In this article we are here to discuss two important verticals of the process of dental cleaning: when you need them and how are they executed. Let us move straight into the central focus of our topic of discussion…

When Do you Need a Dental Cleaning? Do you Really Need it?

Has your dentist recently advised you to walk in for a deep cleaning process? If so, you perhaps have no reasons to guess that he might just be trying to make some extra bucks. He’s actually not! But how do you make it out?

Try noticing something in your teeth. If you find that the gums have become so diseased that they are pulling away from the teeth and creating spaces called ‘pockets’ and even exposing the bone, you know that your dentist could go for nothing but a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is short of actual surgery and a rather invasive procedure that creates sounds that might be annoying to some and less disturbing to others. Worse still, the thought of deep cleaning sounds often result in some amounts of dental anxiety.

Your dentist in fact goes through X-rays and other examining processes before determining that your teeth need a deep cleaning. So don’t sit back thinking that you should only go for it if your insurance provides for the same! It is a rather essential procedure, which, if neglected, might bear dire consequences!

What Does Dental Cleaning Resolve?

The plethora of bacteria in our mouths often mixes with other substances to form sticky plaque on teeth. The plaque that does not get brushed or flossed away hardens to form a substance known as tartar. This causes inflammation of the gums, characterized by redness which could bleed easily. This is when your dentist or hygienist suggests a deep dental cleaning for you.

When pockets become deep enough, the teeth can become loose and may even be lost. Your dentist measures the depth of the pockets before recommending a professional cleaning. Healthy gums are supposed to have pockets that measure no more than 3 mm. A little more than that hints that your teeth are in trouble!

How is Does your Dentist go About the Deep Cleaning Process?

Deep cleaning has two parts – scaling and root planing. Scaling is when your dentist removes the plaque or tartar from both above and below your gum line. This ensures that all the way down to the bottom of the pocket has been perfectly cleaned. Root planing follows this. Its purpose is, smoothing out your teeth roots to aid reattachment of the gums to your teeth. Scaling and root planing may take more than one visit and often requires a local anesthetic too.

A dental cleaning process necessarily requires some after-care steps. Your dentist might prescribe an antibiotic for the infection or an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease any discomfort. Once you get rid of your problem, do not forget to get into the habit of regular oral hygiene so that the you do not get into the same trouble once more!