15 Jan Diving Into Deep Cleaning

Happy New Year!  2021 has finally arrived and here’s to a wonderful and excitingly fresh new year for all of us.  As we begin to see our friends coming in for cleanings, it’s a good time for us to talk about the process of deep cleaning and what it entails.

Deep cleaning (also known as periodontal scraping or root scaling) is necessary when advanced or chronic gum disease (periodontitis) has caused an infection or other inflammation due to excessive plaque buildup around and below the gum line.  Unchecked and left untreated, this can lead to pockets forming between the roots of your teeth and the gums, leading to tissue and bone loss, and eventual loss of the teeth as well. 

While that sounds like an awful lot of gloom and doom, there are many things that can be done to help heal your mouth and gums.  With deep cleaning, the pockets that are below the gum line are addressed in two parts: scaling and planing.

Periodontal scaling is the first part of the deep cleaning process.  This involves removing excess plaque that has hardened and is too stuck on your teeth for regular brushing alone to remove.  After scaling both above and below the gumline, the second part of the deep cleaning process begins, known as root planing.  Root planing is the process of going in and further cleaning and smoothing the roots of the teeth in the affected areas, allowing the gum to have the best chance to begin to re-attach and begin the healing process. 

If you are feeling excessive tenderness, experiencing bleeding while flossing or brushing, or seeing red or swollen areas around your teeth and gums then it is time to come in and let us check out your oral health situation, as you may need more than a standard cleaning to address the issue.  If you have any unanswered questions about deep cleaning, or would like to schedule an appointment don’t hesitate to reach out to us!