Are Deep Cleanings Really Important?

A regular visit to a dentist, even if only twice a year, can be overwhelming for many people. As such, they opt for brushing and flossing their teeth every day in an effort to avoid those visits. If you’re one of these people, it’s important to realize that brushing and flossing alone is not enough to safeguard yourself from costly dental problems. Deep dental cleanings are essential. A dentist or dental hygienist may perform this procedure. 

 What Does Deep Cleaning Entail?

Technically known as root scaling and planing, deep cleaning involves the use of special tools to scrape away plaque and tartar on the surface of the enamel up to and under the edge of your gums. The dentist or hygienist also reaches up along your teeth roots to smooth the softer cementum on the surface. This helps to avert the buildup of plaque in uneven areas.  

A deep cleaning can take about 45 minutes per quadrant of your mouth – upper right, upper left, lower right, or lower left. It may even take several sessions to complete on all four quadrants. This process can be somewhat uncomfortable.

Your dentist or hygienist may administer a local anesthetic to minimize the discomfort caused by the dental tools probing under your gums.

What Are the Benefits of Deep Dental Cleanings?

Root scaling and planing can benefit you in many ways, including:

Eliminating plaque

Plaque accumulation is the primary cause of tooth decay. Plaque develops on the surface of your teeth over time, resulting in a multitude of issues if not removed by a professional. It is acidic in nature and will erode tooth enamel over time. Allowing your dentist to get rid of it with deep cleaning will help minimize your risk of cavities.

Fixing gum-related problems

With deep dental cleaning, you can easily detect and treat gum-related issues. While performing the procedure, your dentist will examine your gums and check for signs of bleeding or disease. There’s no better way to prevent the effects of gum issues than by finding them early and treating them appropriately. Sometimes a regular dental cleaning won’t get rid of the infection. In these instances a deep cleaning is extremely important.

Maintaining a bright smile

After you’ve undergone a deep cleaning session, you’ll have the radiant smile that you’ve always wanted. Prolonged exposure to tooth-staining foods and drinks can cause your teeth to become stained and unsightly. If you wait too long to have root scaling and planing done, it will be quite difficult to get your teeth whitened.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions certainly won’t cut it. However, a deep cleaning by an experienced dentist won’t disappoint. With deep cleaning, you’ll be able to restore the sparkle of your pearly whites effectively.

Preventing dental deterioration

When your dentist or hygienist gets rid of all the disease-causing bacteria from your mouth with deep cleaning, the risk of dental deterioration and even tooth loss is significantly minimized.

In Conclusion

No matter how thorough you are in cleaning your entire mouth, cavities may find a way to develop as food particles are trapped between teeth and inside deep cracks. Special dental cleaning tools like an electric toothbrush, waxed dental floss, tongue cleaners, and oral irrigators cannot beat a deep dental cleaning performed by an experienced dentist or hygienist.

Even if you are using the most expensive oral products such as fluoride toothpaste and dental chewing gums, at-home oral care is not enough to protect you from serious dental issues. It’s important to visit your dentist regularly for root scaling and planing. The procedure provides your gums with a truly healthy environment, which in turn results in your mouth as a whole being a healthier environment too.