If you’ve recently visited the dentist, you may have heard the term “deep cleaning” mentioned. While it might sound like just a more intense version of your regular clean, it’s a specific treatment for a distinct dental health issue: gum disease (periodontal disease).
Understanding what a deep cleaning is and why it might be necessary is the first step toward restoring the health of your gums and protecting your smile for the long term. Here at Kennett Road Dental Practice, we believe in empowering our patients with clear, straightforward information.
The Journey from Plaque to Gum Disease
To understand deep cleaning, it helps to first understand how gum disease develops.
It all starts with plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Daily brushing and flossing/interdental cleaning are designed to remove this plaque. However, if plaque is missed, it can harden into tartar (also called calculus), a substance so hard it can only be removed by a dental professional.
The build-up of plaque and tartar irritates the gums, causing gingivitis—the earliest stage of gum disease. You might notice red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush. At this point, the condition is often reversible with a standard professional cleaning and diligent home care.
If left untreated, however, gingivitis can progress to a more serious condition called periodontitis. This is where a deep cleaning becomes necessary.
With periodontitis, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating small spaces called periodontal pockets. These pockets trap plaque and tartar deep below the gumline, where a regular toothbrush or even a standard cleaning simply can’t reach. This infection starts to destroy the bone that supports your teeth, which can eventually lead to tooth loss.
Regular Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning: What’s the Difference?
The main difference lies in the area of the tooth being treated.
A regular dental cleaning is a preventative procedure. It focuses on cleaning plaque and tartar from the visible parts of your teeth, above the gumline. It’s essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing gum disease from starting.
A deep dental cleaning is a treatment for existing gum disease. It is designed to clean deep below the gumline, addressing the tooth roots and the periodontal pockets that have formed. Your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning if your pockets measure 4-5 millimetres or deeper.
What Happens During a Deep Cleaning Procedure?
A deep cleaning, known clinically as root surface cleaning or debridement, is a precise, non-surgical procedure performed by a dentist or dental hygienist. This may require one or two appointments of about 1-2 hours each.
First, to ensure your comfort, a local anaesthetic may be used to numb the area being treated.
Next is Root Surface Debridement (RSD) – a dental procedure used to remove plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces below the gum line.
For this treatment, your dental professional will use special tools (either manual hand scalers or ultrasonic instruments) to carefully remove all the plaque and tartar build-up from the surfaces of your teeth, both above and, most importantly, below the gumline within the periodontal pockets.
Most importantly, your dental professional will provide tailored and personalised oral hygiene instruction so you can prevent further plaque and tartar build up.
During this procedure, the roots of your teeth and deep pockets are cleaned. This cleaning process helps prevent future bacteria from sticking and allows your gums to heal and reattach more securely to the teeth.
Crucially, your role in preventing further plaque build up with excellent oral hygiene practices at home is essential to success or otherwise of the treatment
In essence, a deep cleaning is a crucial intervention designed to stop periodontitis in its tracks, remove the source of the infection, and create a healthy environment for your gums to become healthy again. Along with excellent oral hygiene on your part, it allows the gums to heal and prevent further bone or even tooth loss.
But remember, once you have been diagnosed with gum disease, you will always have it, and regular professional maintenance is essential to prevent further progression.
Gum disease cannot be cured but with professional help and optimal care on your part, it can be managed and maintained so you can keep your teeth for longer.
If you’ve noticed symptoms like bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or loose teeth, it’s important to schedule a consultation to see if this treatment is right for you.
