Periodontal cleaning (also known as deep cleaning) is a procedure that is performed by a dental specialist to help treat gum disease as well as periodontal disease. Dentists will normally recommend it if a person has not had a dental exam for a long time and as a result has accumulated debris, plaque, and bacteria that cause gum disease.
Why Periodontal Cleaning Is Important
Dentists use probes to measure the space around your teeth. They do this in order to see if you have any pockets around the teeth where bacteria can gather up and begin to erode your enamel. Experts say that these pockets should not be more than 3mm deep.
If the pockets are deeper than that, your dentist might suggest doing a periodontal cleaning especially if he or she identifies that there is an accumulation of bacteria in the pocket. By removing these bacteria from the pockets, periodontal cleaning helps to keep your teeth healthy and protected from bacteria attack.
Periodontal Cleaning Process
The procedure involves two processes namely scaling and root planing. When doing scaling, the dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the tooth and from the pockets around the teeth and gums. There are a variety of tools that your dentist can use for this process. This includes an electiceor ultrasonic machine or the dentist can opt to use manual tools. Either way, the surface of your tooth should be free of debris by the end of the process.
Root Planing
As the name suggests, this focuses on the root area of the tooth. Using a scaling instrument, the dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the root. The process of scaling and root planing typically takes two appointments with the dentist in order to be fully completed. Once completed, the dentist may also request a third appointment just to ensure that there is no plaque or tarter left on the tooth or on the tooth.
Post Periodontal Cleaning
It is important to remember that even though the process removes all bacteria from the affected tooth, it can easily accumulate if care is not taken to keep the teeth clean. For this reason, it helps to maintain a strict oral health regime. This includes regular brushing with toothpaste and flossing. It helps to avoid sugary food and drinks as these provide sugar that the bacteria live on.
Regular dental exams by your dentist will also help to keep infections at bay as your dentist will be able to catch them long before they become a problem. Experts recommend at least two dental exams a year.
If you need to see a professional and highly experienced dentist for dental exams and periodontal cleaning, Dr. Alex Rubinov can help. Dr. Rubinov has years of experience helping patients get strong and healthy teeth. Contact his practice at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.