Getting frequent dental cleanings done is essential, not only to maintain your teeth clean and white but also to ascertain the long-term health of your gums and teeth and to prevent gum disease, cavities, and decay. Therefore, it is highly advised that you visit a dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth expertly cleaned.
Still, there are instances when your dentist may advise that you get a deep cleaning, also referred to as root planning and periodontal scaling. This read will examine the contrast between the two kinds of cleanings.
What is a Regular Dental Cleaning?
A scheduled dental cleaning generally entails your dentist getting rid of all plaque and tartar from the surface of teeth. Regular dental cleaning is done without anesthesia and generally takes 20 minutes to an hour to complete. If you visit the dentist every six months to get a cleaning and complement this with taking proper care of your oral health each day, chances are that you’ll never have to get a deep cleaning done.
What is a Deep Cleaning?
Although standard dental cleanings are centered on cleaning and polishing the surface of the tooth or over the gum line, deep cleaning entails getting rid of tartar and plaque from the tooth’s root that is under the gum line. Deep cleaning is always suggested for persons who have tartar buildup that spreads to the roots of the tooth, leading to swollen gums, bad breath, and other early tell-tale signs of gum disease.
How is a Regular Dental Cleaning Different From a Deep Cleaning?
Different Purposes for Gum Disease Treatment
The key objective of regular dental cleaning is to preserve the general hygiene of your teeth. On the other hand, the key objective of deep cleaning is to remedy periodontitis or gum disease, making it go into retardation. Therefore, a deep cleaning job is only done when gum disease exists.
The More Broad Procedure, Done in Two Appointments
The key distinction between regular dental cleaning and deep cleaning is that a deep cleaning job is more expensive. In contrast to a regular dental cleaning, a deep cleaning is generally performed in two appointments. It is like this since your dentist will inject you with local anesthesia and deal with one part of the mouth during the first visit and the other during the second visit.
Needs More Time Per Appointment
Dissimilar to the shorter dental cleaning visits, every deep cleaning job is around 4 minutes to one hour, depending on the seriousness of the tartar accumulation. Also, a deep cleaning job is usually done in two stages:
1. Scaling – elimination of tartar and plaque under the gum line to the base of the periodontal pocket.
2. Root planing – polishing the tooth root’s surface, enabling the connective gum tissue to regenerate, reconnect to the tooth root, and reinforce the tooth once more.
More Regular Dental Visits for Maintenance
Another huge distinction between regular dental cleaning and deep cleaning is the needed maintenance. Rather than after every six months, as with regular cleaning, when you get a deep cleaning, you will have to book an appointment every three months to receive periodontal maintenance to inhibit bacterial growth from returning. Please remember that once your dentist has given a periodontitis (gum disease) diagnosis, we won’t do a regular dental cleaning because it’s against our professional and ethical standards.
Why is Deep Cleaning Essential?
Allowing gum disease to worsen can result in tooth loss. The upside is that deep cleaning and antibiotics are often sufficient to remedy minor-to-moderate gum disease cases, minimize inflammation, and encourage gum health.
If you want a healthy and beautiful smile, book an appointment. Please contact our Sacramento River Dental Group office at (916) 391 – 4848 or fill out an appointment request form.
