What is the difference between a deep cleaning and a regular dental cleaning?
The difference between a deep cleaning and a regular dental cleaning is that a deep cleaning is generally performed under local anesthesia, and the doctor or hygienist uses tools to go deeper underneath the gums to remove more deposits, tartar, plaque, and deep-seated bacteria.
How do you know if a patient needs a deep cleaning?
Once the patient comes in, an examination is done, and a full set of dental radiographs is performed. On examination of the dental X-rays, if there are any signs of bone loss, deeper pockets, swollen gums, bleeding gums, or soreness in the gums, a lot of the time that's a good indication that a deep cleaning procedure should be performed.
How is a deep dental cleaning performed?
A deep dental cleaning can sometimes be done in one visit, but most of the time, patients prefer a couple of visits. They may do half the mouth first and then come back for the other half. Whatever area the cleaning is performed on initially, the patient is anesthetized first so they won't feel anything.
Then the dental professional uses different instruments to go deeper underneath the gums to remove tartar, plaque, and calculus that might exist between the teeth, reducing the bacterial load deep inside the gums.
What are the benefits of deep cleaning?
The benefits of deep cleaning are basically removing the causes of gum disease in the first place, which is primarily bacteria. Removing tartar and plaque and reducing the bacterial count helps keep the gums healthy.
What should a patient expect after a deep cleaning procedure?
Usually, after a deep cleaning procedure, the patient should expect some soreness in the gums once the anesthesia wears off. That can be treated with some analgesics or painkillers if needed.
Patients may also notice gaps because those gaps before the cleaning were covered with tartar and buildup material that was full of bacteria. Eliminating all of that can temporarily create gaps between the teeth.
How much do deep dental cleanings cost and does dental insurance cover them?
The cost for deep dental cleanings varies from office to office. Insurance coverage also depends on the insurance company. Most of them do cover cleanings, and some may cover only a percentage of the cost.
Why is a deep cleaning important for overall health?
The main reason a deep cleaning is done is to reduce bacteria in the gums, reduce inflammation, and make sure those gums stay healthy because, a lot of the time, bacteria deep-seated in the gums can spread into the rest of your body. It can affect the muscle of your heart, for example, or other parts of your body. Keeping the gums healthy is important for the overall health of the individual.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (610) 553-3389 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!