What to Expect If You Need a Deep Cleaning
We discussed earlier this month about ways to prevent gum disease since it’s National Gum Care Month. Let’s talk about what happens if you develop gum disease and what to expect. Gum disease is like diabetes – there is no cure, but it can be managed. The sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better the long-term outcome to expect. On today’s blog, Dr. Rudi As-Sanie shares what to expect if you need a deep cleaning.
Gum Disease & Deep Cleaning
Studies show that 47.2% of adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Many times, life gets in the way, and our careers take off, we start having children, etc. and our dental health gets put on the back burner. It often starts with college and kids moving away from home and not keeping up with their dental appointments. Once they find an “adult” job that offers dental insurance and finally get back into the dentist, they may have a lot of catch up to do. A lot of factors can contribute to developing gum disease, but the best defense is good home care and regular visits to the dentist.
At every patient visit, we do a screening for gum disease. This involves using a small instrument with measurement markings to measure the space between the teeth and gums. The lower the number, or the less it drops down between the tooth and gum, the better. This tells us you have a firm, healthy attachment of the gums to the teeth and great support. If the measurement is deeper, this tells us the gum is inflamed and infected.
During a Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning is where we go deeper underneath the gums to clean more thoroughly to remove tartar buildup that has settled further below the gumline. The buildup is like a splinter; the longer it sits, the more irritated it will make the gums, and the more damage it will do to the bone that holds in and supports the teeth. Our team will split the mouth in half for a deep cleaning and have the patient come back for two visits.
Your hygienist will numb one side of the mouth and remove all of the deposits and plaque bacteria from the teeth. We use a special instrument that sprays water and vibrates to help flush out from under the gums. Each side of the mouth takes about 1-1.5 hours to clean. We make sure the patient is comfortable the entire time during the procedure. We also take the time to be sure you have the best tips and tricks to keep your teeth and gums healthy after to avoid having to repeat the deep cleaning.
Post Deep Dental Cleaning
Two of the most important factors in the gum tissue’s healing response are a patient’s home care and keeping up with their cleanings at the dentist. Dr. As-Sanie will recommend having your teeth cleaned every 3-4 months vs. every 6, so we can disturb the bacteria more frequently under the gums to prevent any relapse and help maintain the gums and bone’s health. If you ever have any questions or concerns about a deep cleaning or need a family dentist in Dublin, OH, we are here for you at Dental Reflections Dublin. Please do not hesitate to call us at 614.799.5576.
