The teeth cleanings that occur during typical oral health exams remove tartar and plaque buildup in order to protect your smile and maintain your hygiene. It is often only necessary to remove debris from teeth above the gums, but patients affected by poor periodontal health can require more support. This comes in the form of a deep dental cleaning. Also known as scaling and root planing, this service targets your roots to remove bacteria responsible for gingivitis and gum disease.
What Makes This Service Different From Your Typical Dental Cleaning?
Removing plaque and tartar from your crowns—the portions of teeth that reside above your gums—will protect you from the onset of dental decay and gum disease. Unfortunately, there are times when more involved care is needed to protect your periodontal tissues. As bacteria make their way under the gumline, infection becomes a concern. Timely scaling and root planing will remove harmful microbes in spaces where cleanings do not usually occur. This service also helps you by making the accumulation of bacteria more difficult in the future.
The Role Deep Dental Cleanings Play In Maintaining Your Periodontal Health
During a review of your oral health, your dentist can point out the warning signs of gingivitis. Once identified, we can determine if the evidence of poor gum health makes a deep dental cleaning necessary. If so, care will be taken to reach and clean the roots under your gums. After removing the microbes that were gathered in these areas, they are treated to a polishing process that makes future bacteria accumulation less likely.
Scaling and root planing is a more involved process than the typical cleaning provided during your routine visits. As a result, the work can require a longer appointment time, and it may make a subsequent visit to complete the service necessary.