Treatment
Deep Cleaning
Scaling and root planing that cleans below the gumline, for gums that have already started to pull away from the tooth.
Also called scaling and root planing. Where a regular cleaning works at and just under the gumline, a deep cleaning goes into the pockets that form when gums detach from the root.
The area is numbed, and your hygienist removes tartar and bacterial film from the root surface itself, then smooths the root so the gum can reattach. It is usually done a half or a quarter of the mouth at a time.
It stops the process that ends in loose teeth. Bone lost to gum disease does not come back, so the goal is to halt it where it is rather than to reverse it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about deep cleaning.
Anyone whose gum measurements have gone past about four millimeters, or who has bleeding, recession, or bone loss visible on x-rays. Paula or Leah will show you the numbers.
You are numb, so it is pressure and sound rather than pain. Most people find it easier than they expected, and we go at whatever pace you need.
Usually two visits of about an hour each, one for each side of the mouth. Severe cases are sometimes split into four shorter appointments.
This is not a one-time fix. Deep cleaning is followed by periodontal maintenance every three to four months, because the pockets refill if left alone. Insurance often covers part of it.
Tenderness and some cold sensitivity for a week or two as the gums tighten. Teeth can look slightly longer afterward, because the swelling that was hiding the roots is gone.
Come and see us
We would love to meet you
Call the office or ask for a time online. We will come back to you within a business day, and tell you what it costs first.