Teeth Cleaning (Deep Cleaning): What to Expect During the Procedure?

A cleaning procedure termed a scale and polish is frequently included in regular dental visits. 

Before polishing the surface of your teeth, the dentist removes plaque and tartar from areas that are challenging to reach with brushing and flossing. 

A scale and polish will eliminate plaque and tartar for most patients, but for some, the tartar may be the reason for gum disease. The patient would require deep teeth cleaning in this situation.

Dentists advise deep teeth cleaning for patients with gum disease, particularly if it has developed into periodontitis. 

Tartar accumulation below the gum line is eliminated by deep cleaning. Under local anaesthetic, the procedure is carried out. The gums can feel sore afterwards, but it does not hurt.

What is Teeth Cleaning?

Dental scaling and root planing, often known as deep cleaning, is another name for dental cleaning. Simply said, a deep clean goes a little bit further than a standard clean. 

Toxins like calculus, tartar, and other particles that have adhered to the surfaces of your teeth are removed by your dental hygienist by reaching below the gum line.

The gum disease or the immune response of the gums, will worsen if these materials are not removed. Gum pockets will certainly get deeper and deeper as a result of this leakage.

Loss of teeth and possibly loss of bone are long-term effects of growing pockets.

The root surface, which is technically below the gum line, is physically being cleaned and/or scraped during this deep teeth cleaning.

What is Involved in the Process of Deep Teeth Cleaning?

1. Pre-appointment diagnosis

Before doing your deep cleaning, your dentist will use a periodontal probe to measure the space between your teeth and gums and determine whether you have gum disease. 

A gap wider than 3 mm is a sign of gum disease. Your dentist will also examine your gums to see whether they are bleeding, inflamed, or both, as well as to determine if any of your teeth are loose.

The three stages of gum disease are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. Treatment for gingivitis typically doesn't involve a thorough cleaning of the teeth, but periodontitis and advanced periodontitis do. 

An x-ray of your teeth will normally be requested by your dentist since periodontitis can lead to bone loss, which is apparent on the x-ray.

2. Your first deep teeth cleaning appointment

Usually, two appointments are needed to perform a deep cleaning of the teeth. 

This is due to the fact that at each appointment, your dentist will numb and treat one side of your mouth using local anaesthetic. 

It would be challenging to talk, eat, or drink following your appointment if your mouth was completely numb.

To ensure you don't experience any pain throughout the procedure, the dentist will either apply a numbing cream or administer local anaesthetic by injection into your gums. 

The tartar below your gumline will then be removed by your dentist using a little dental instrument. 

To remove tartar and plaque from difficult-to-reach locations or places where the tartar is extremely challenging to remove, your dentist may employ ultrasonic equipment that vibrates.

3. Your second appointment

In your second appointment, your dentist will treat the opposite side of your mouth using the same techniques they used to treat the first side. 

Additionally, after the deep cleaning, they will evaluate how the side of your mouth that has previously undergone treatment feels and is healing.

It is anticipated that each appointment will last at least an hour and maybe up to four hours. 

Direct injection of an antibiotic gel into the area between your teeth and gums may be necessary if your infection is severe and you need special attention.

To treat the infection, you may be given antibiotic tablets or a powerful mouthwash.

4. Follow-up appointment

Your dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment for you following your second deep cleaning session, which is typically scheduled two weeks later. 

During this appointment, your dentist will measure the space between your teeth and gums to see if it has shrunk.

Depending on the results of your thorough cleaning, you might be referred to a specialist for further treatment.

What to Expect During Teeth Scaling?

The scaling procedure is carried out by your provider using an ultrasonic vibrating instrument. 

These steps could happen during teeth scaling:

• The scaler's vibrating metal tip removes tartar from your teeth above the gum line.

• Tartar and plaque from the gum pockets are removed by spraying water on the scaler.

• To get rid of any last few little bits of tartar, your doctor utilises a manual dental scaler and scraper (called a curette).

What to Expect During Root Planing?

In contrast to scaling, root planing is performed on the roots of your teeth, which are located below the gum line.

Your dentist will:

• gently remove your gum tissue with the aid of a tool to reveal the surface of the roots.

• uses the same tools for tooth scaling to remove tartar from the roots and smoothen them.

• an antibiotic drug may occasionally be directly injected into any gum pockets.

Does Deep Cleaning Hurt?

Your dentist will typically numb your gums with a local anaesthetic to prevent pain during the treatment. 

After SRP, a patient typically experiences only a small amount of sensitivity, while some throbbing and achiness may also happen. Remember that even routine dental cleanings can be a little uncomfortable.

First of all, the dental hygienist's manipulation of your gums may cause you to experience temporary discomfort or throbbing.

The root surface's extreme cleanliness may then result in sensitivity. A very clean surface may be temperature sensitive for a few weeks at the most, since all the tartar and calculus on the root surface functions as a kind of thermal barrier.

Take Care of your Teeth and Gums After Root Planing

There are various practices that can aid in your recovery after having your roots planed.

1. For a couple of days, avoid acidic meals and beverages.

2. Saliva will help to remineralize and fortify the root surfaces, so make sure you have some in your mouth. Try mouth taping if you breathe through your mouth at night to avoid dry mouth.

3. Use toothpaste with nano-hydroxyapatite (nHa).

4. Switching to a sonic toothbrush might help break up plaque gently before it becomes tartar buildup.

Who Needs Scaling and Root Planing?

Before your dentist detects gum disease during a checkup, several of the warning symptoms may already be present.

• Bad breath

• Gum disease (also known as gingivitis or stage I periodontitis)

• Sensitive/Inflamed gum tissue

• Sensitivity when flossing

Make an appointment with your dentist straight away if you experience any of these signs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sustaining excellent oral health and general well-being requires an appreciation of the significance of tooth cleaning, especially deep cleaning. 

Regular dental cleanings help to avoid future gum diseases and mouth infections by removing plaque, tartar, and germs.

You can make sure that your smile is bright, healthy, and long-lasting by making routine dental appointments a priority and by paying attention to the recommendations of trained dental experts. 

A happy, healthy lifestyle should always include practising good oral hygiene habits and getting competent dental care. 

Therefore, make that much-needed dental appointment and start taking care of your teeth right away!