What Is a Dental Deep Cleaning? - Smiles Dental Care Mountain View California (2024)

Wondering what exactly a dental deep cleaning is? Everyone needs to have their teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. This dental cleaning is necessary in order to remove any plaque or tartar buildup occurring on the teeth, which can lead to your experiencing a wide variety of dental problems. This is because plaque and tartar carry a lot of harmful bacteria, and which can, in turn, harm your good dental health.

What exactly is a dental deep cleaning?

A dental deep cleaning is similar to a regular cleaning except for the fact that during this procedure, it is necessary to go below the gum line in order to remove any plaque or tartar buildup. This deeper process may require more than one dental visit.

Are deep cleanings painful?

When it comes to how painful undergoing a dental deep cleaning is, it simply depends on the patient. Most patients will experience various levels of discomfort, with some patients experiencing various levels of pain. For patients who are in need of pain treatment, they can choose to take over-the-counter pain relievers or ask their dental professional for a pain prescription.

How long does a deep cleaning take?

How long a deep dental cleaning will take depends on each individual patient's particular situation. Some patients may undergo a deep cleaning in just one dental appointment, which may take up to two hours to complete. It may take a dental professional up to an hour to address each of the four quadrants of teeth, which will take longer to address and often requires a patient to make more than one dental appointment.

Will receding gums reattach after a deep cleaning?

It depends on how severe the receding gums are, as if they are only minimally receded, then the gums will reattach themselves to the teeth. While any gum loss experienced due to gum disease will not grow back, the majority of patients can expect their gums to reattach after undergoing a deep cleaning. This is because all of the harmful bacteria has been removed, allowing the gums to once again be healthy.

How long does it take to recover from a dental deep cleaning?

Most patients will experience some soreness and discomfort for two to three days after undergoing a deep cleaning. This is because the gums will be tender and even a little swollen due to the process of removing all of the plaque and tartar buildups. They will often also experience levels of tooth sensitivity for about one week, which will gradually diminish over time.

Do you need a dental deep cleaning?

Ready to learn if a dental deep cleaning is necessary in order to clean your teeth? If it has been a while since you have had your teeth cleaned by a dental professional, then you may need this type of dental cleaning in order for your mouth to be healthy. The only way for you to know is by making an appointment, so please do not hesitate to contact us as we can get you scheduled in at a time that is convenient for you.

Request an appointment here: https://smilesdental.com or call Smiles Dental Care at (650) 563-1180 for an appointment in our Mountain View office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

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What Is a Dental Deep Cleaning? - Smiles Dental Care Mountain View California (2024)

FAQs

What does a dental deep cleaning consist of? ›

A deep teeth cleaning or a dental deep cleaning procedure involves two parts – the first is gum or periodontal scaling and the second is root planing. Both aspects of the deep teeth cleaning process can be performed using electric or ultrasonic instruments or manual dentist scaling tools, or a combination of the two.

Is deep teeth cleaning worth it? ›

Deep cleaning is not necessary for every patient. However, for patients with gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease) or a more serious case of gum disease, deep cleaning may be required to prevent tooth loss and stop further damage.

How long does it take for gums to heal after a deep cleaning? ›

On average, it takes about 5 – 7 days for your gums to heal after deep cleaning. During this period, it's possible to experience minor gum soreness, swelling, and tooth sensitivity.

How painful is dental deep cleaning? ›

Some may not experience pain, especially those with minimal gum pocket depths; they may feel little or no discomfort throughout and after the cleaning process, even without administering anesthetics. On the other hand, some patients experience pain during and after the in-depth dental deep cleaning process.

How to avoid deep cleaning teeth? ›

To keep your gums healthy and prevent the need for future deep cleaning, build these healthy oral hygiene, diet and lifestyle habits into your daily routine:
  1. Brush twice daily with an antimicrobial fluoride toothpaste.
  2. Clean between your teeth daily to remove plaque using floss or another interdental tool.
Feb 13, 2023

How many shots for deep cleaning teeth? ›

How many shots for a deep cleaning on your teeth? Deep cleanings, also knowns as Scaling and Root Planing (SRPs), typically require two appointments of about 1.5 hours and the dentist or hygienist will administer topical anesthesia then one or two shots to get the patient fully numb prior to treatment.

Are your gums still receding after a deep clean? ›

When the inflamed and infected gum pockets begin to heal after deep cleaning gum recession can occur. The bacteria that has burrowed deep into the gum pockets disolves the supporting bone structure irreversibly. As the inflammation resolves the gums become healthy again and tighten against the tooth and bone structure.

Will teeth be loose after deep cleaning? ›

When this buildup is removed, any existing looseness may become more noticeable. As a result, teeth may feel loose following a deep cleaning. But they're not loosened or dislodged by the cleaning process itself.

Do gums grow back after cleaning? ›

The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.

What can I do instead of a deep cleaning? ›

While dental deep cleaning is a common procedure recommended for treating gum disease, there are alternative approaches that can be effective in maintaining oral health.
  • Daily Oral Hygiene Routine. ...
  • Antimicrobial Mouthwashes. ...
  • Interdental Cleaning. ...
  • Professional Dental Cleanings. ...
  • Diet and Nutrition.
Jun 5, 2023

Can gums get infected after deep cleaning? ›

Dental hygienists aim to be gentle during teeth cleaning, but in some cases, aggressive cleaning techniques or underlying gum disease can cause irritation or even minor cuts in the gums. These openings provide an entry point for bacteria, increasing the risk of infection.

Does deep cleaning make your teeth whiter? ›

The short answer is: no. It's important to clarify that these deep cleanings alone do not directly whiten your teeth. Professional cleanings focus on removing plaque, tartar, and surface stains, which can definitely improve the appearance of your smile and give your teeth a cleaner and brighter appearance.

Do they numb you for teeth deep cleaning? ›

A routine cleaning takes only one visit. A deep cleaning usually involves the use of local anesthetic to keep you comfortable while the dental hygienist or dentist cleans underneath the gums. Your mouth will be numb to prevent the process from causing you any pain. A routine cleaning does not require any numbing.

Can you eat after a deep cleaning? ›

You can eat as soon as you feel ready to do so. But this is if you only had a deep dental cleaning. If your dentist did a cleaning and a fluoride treatment, you'll have to wait for at least thirty minutes. Fluoride treatments are often done to help make your teeth stronger.

What is the alternative to deep cleaning teeth? ›

Interdental cleaning involves using tools like interdental brushes or dental floss picks to clean between teeth and remove plaque and debris.

Are you put under for deep cleaning teeth? ›

Is anesthetic required for deep cleanings? No. Anesthesia is not a requirement for the procedure. Our goal at Premier Dental of Ohio is for every patient to be comfortable with every procedure.

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