Deep Cleaning

Scaling and Root Planing is frequently referred to as, Deep Cleaning. Deep cleaning is the treatment

of choice for an infectious disease called periodontal disease.

So what is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease mainly starts with the formation of plaque around the teeth. Plaque is the yellow film

on your teeth caused by food and bacteria in your mouth. When plaque buildup mixes

with the saliva it hardens over time and turns into tarter.

Tarter containing bacteria will irritate the gums around the teeth by attaching to the outer surface

of the teeth and roots and releases poisonous toxins. These toxins cause an infection

and an inflammation of the gums.

Worse, if left untreated, they can ultimately cause bone loss and eventually tooth loss. Keep in mind,

the lost bone will never grow back.

Fortunately, deep cleaning can help. Deep cleaning is a procedure that treats the infected area

by meticulously cleaning the tarter and bacteria from the teeth and their roots.

Deep Cleaning or Scaling and Root Planing is normally performed by your dentist or dental hygienist

in a couple of visits. The exact number of visits, however, depends on your dentist and the

amount of tarter buildup. Often your dentist will choose to administer a local anesthetic to make

the procedure virtually painless.

The deep cleaning is either done manually or with an ultrasonic instrument called a Cavitron

or sometimes a combination of the two. Both techniques loosen and remove plaque and tarter buildup.

In addition, antibacterial irrigants or local antibiotics, such as Arestin, may be used in conjunction

with the cleaning procedure to further reduce the number of bacteria around the gums.

Also keep in mind, although rare, one or more of the following symptoms can occur after treatment:

• Bleeding of the gum
• Inadvertent removal or irritation of the gum
• Teeth discomfort, such as sensitivity to hot and cold or sweets
• Swelling and inflammation of the gum
• Allergies to some of the materials used during the procedure

You may ask yourself, can I get a regular cleaning instead?

The answer is no. As the name deep cleaning implies, the main difference is that deep cleaning

goes below the gum to remove plaque or tarter buildup from the tooth’s root where the bone

is affected by the infection, whereas, regular cleaning only removes the plaque or tarter above the gum.

Periodontal disease can not currently be cured, it can only be controlled so it’s important

to follow your dentist’s recommendations for follow-up maintenance and treatment.

In addition to routine checkups, performing proper dental hygiene at home is, of course,

also important to help prevent the re occurrence of this destructive disease.

Please check with your dentist or dental hygienist if you have any additional questions