We all have that regular dental visit to a clinic. A significant number of Americans skip their yearly dental inspection. Actually, over 34 percent of people living in the United States skip their scheduled dental checkups. Dental health affects almost half of the adult population within the United States.
Now to dental deep cleaning. Deep dental cleaning has to do with the periodontal disease and dental care. Of course, you will not be told to commence on deep dental cleaning without a dentist’s recommendation.
What is Dental Deep Cleaning?
Regular visits to the dentists are highly recommended. If you happen to get a recommendation for deep dental cleaning, then it means there is a problem that needs to be rectified on your teeth. It might not be easy to take such a recommendation down your throat. Could the doctor be trying to get more money from you?
The answer is NO. All the dentist cares for is your periodontal health! The core purpose of performing a deep dental cleaning is to eliminate bacteria and plaque that has been trapped below your gums. Technically, the deep dental cleaning is referred to as ‘root scaling and planning’. This is according to Paulo Camargo, who was the chairman of periodontics at the UCLA school of dentistry.
When Do You Need Dental Deep Cleaning?
To have a condition that requires deep dental cleaning, this is the probable situation within your mouth. Once you do not clean your mouth regularly, plaque builds up on your teeth. Plaque usually consists of a sticky film mainly comprising of bacteria. It can, however, be eliminated by regular teeth brushing. The plaque will move down to your gum line and form tartar. Once tartar accumulates under your teeth, you then definitely need dental deep cleaning.
Before a dentist commences a deep dental cleaning exercise on you, you will take an X-ray on your teeth. Deep cleaning will be carried out if the results from the X-ray scan reveals that you have bone loss in your mouth. If you happen to have gum pockets deeper than 4 millimeters, then you qualify for a deep dental cleaning. However, treatment is only confined to the affected area of the mouth and not all parts, as many people seem to think.
The Dental Deep Cleaning Process
After assessing the X-ray pictures, if satisfied, your dentist will recommend the scaling method for your dental treatment. This process starts with the removal of plaque and tartar from your enamel below the gums. It becomes more intense as the dentist tries hard to get to the roots of your teeth. This is aimed at preventing plaque from settling in the uneven spaces between your teeth.
The essence of reaching up to the teeth roots is to level the soft cementum so that there are no perforations towards the spaces between teeth. Since the process takes a long time, like up to one hour, you may be given an anesthetic to numb the sensation brought by the dental tools on your teeth. If the affected areas cover multiple sections of your mouth, the process might be even longer than expected. Each section will take an average of 45 minutes to perform the dental deep cleaning.
Signs That Indicate You Need a Dental Deep Cleaning
There are three major indicators of the necessity of dental deep cleaning in a patient;
Gum pockets
The gum pockets should not exceed 4 millimeters. If they do, then you probably need deep cleaning. A probe is used in measuring the size of gum pockets.
Gum inflation
This is one of the severe signs of a periodontal disease. If the gums show signs of being overblown for some time, that is an indicator that you require dental deep cleaning.
Use of X-rays
A deep scan of your inner mouth parts can help ascertain if you require deep cleaning. X-rays are used to show signs of bone loss which could need correction through deep cleaning.
Root Scaling for Gum disease
Periodontal diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance is a long process. Advanced gum disease is a threat to your dental life. During the early stages of gum disease, bacteria release poison that leads to inflammation of the gum. This stage is referred to as gingivitis.
To avert this situation, your dentist will scrape off the plaque that lies on the surface of your teeth. Gingivitis will then clear and avoid a possible situation of severe periodontists. You should then ensure that you maintain a strict schedule of cleaning your teeth to avoid having deposits of plaque on your teeth. If not, the cycle will repeat itself and you might end up developing inflation of gums. In the end, you might be forced to have your teeth removed due to visible gaps that render your teeth loose in the mouth.
Dental deep cleaning is a long-term diagnosis process. It is supposed to stop or slow down your dental degradation. You will still be required to present yourself for treatment even after the process is complete. The gums will heal and take around two months to reform. However, the bone loss may recur since it is irreversible. This means you will require more follow-ups and checks until that time when you are fully healed. You should, however, note that regular cleaning and maintenance is key.
How Much Will Dental Deep Cleaning Cost?
Dental care is just worth its cost. A standard dental cleaning may cost you at least $100. For deep cleaning, you will incur about $300. However, dental insurance is key in taking the cost burden off your back. Research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that over 45 percent of adults have gum disease. These patients have a tendency of requiring deep cleanings. Dental insurance, for such people, is therefore key.
King of Prussia Periodontics is a leading dental health provider in the country. Whether you have a toothache, require dental deep cleaning or just need to consult a dentist, you should visit King of Prussia for excellent services. It is located at 10112 Valley Forge Cir.
