Most people know the dos and don’ts of regular teeth cleanings. Do get them every six months. Don’t rely on them as your only means of dental hygiene. Don’t skip them, and do let your hygienist know if something hurts during your cleaning.
But did you know there’s another type of teeth cleaning that gets between your gums and teeth? Downtown Dental Studio offers deep cleanings to our patients who need them.
Our providers, Fadi Beydoun, DMD, MS, Alexander Kimon, DMD, and Karina Zaygermakher, DMD, recommend deep teeth cleanings if you are dealing with the results of gum disease. Regular deep cleanings could help protect your oral health in the long run.
Periodontal (or gum) diseases are preventable, but unfortunately, they’re still very common. These illnesses touch the lives of 20 and 50% of the world’s population. At any stage of periodontal disease, a deep cleaning could be helpful.
During a deep cleaning, your provider focuses on the pockets between your gums and teeth. These pockets are not natural; they form due to periodontal disease. If you have gingivitis — the early form of gum disease — you won’t usually have pockets, but as the illness progresses toward periodontitis, the pockets will become deeper and larger.
If your provider recommends you have a deep cleaning, it’s important to remember this isn’t just a more comprehensive type of cleaning. It’s a specific procedure used to deal with a certain problem caused by gum disease.
Deep cleanings are performed by periodontists or doctors who specialize in the care and treatment of the gums. The treatment is called root planing or scaling because of the tools and procedures used to clean the pockets between your teeth and gums.
First, your provider will use a scaler, a metal tool with a hook on the end, to scrape away at the plaque above, on, and under your gum line. They may also need to use an ultrasonic device to remove stubborn plaque or tartar. Then, they’ll smooth out the rough spots on your tooth roots to keep bacteria from adhering to them, a procedure called planing.
The treatment isn’t painful because you will receive a numbing agent beforehand. However, you may notice some soreness after the fact. While you receive the deep cleaning, most providers will also perform the duties of regular teeth cleaning.
It’s crucial to get regular cleanings, not only because you require them for your ongoing oral health but because they can help your provider notice issues early on. This means finding gum disease before it worsens, and if necessary, treating it with a deep cleaning.
Call our New York City office at 212-964-3337. You can also make an online appointment with us. Whatever you choose, we’re here to help you protect your oral health for the long haul.
