The Difference Between a Regular Dental Cleaning and a Deep Cleaning

Routine dental exams and teeth cleaning in Katy, TX, is essential for maintaining oral hygiene and dental health. It keeps the teeth looking visually appealing and ensures strong and healthy teeth for overall well-being. Failure to clean the teeth regularly can lead to weakened teeth, which are more prone to infections and tooth loss.

It is important to address cavities and prevent periodontal disease to prevent tooth loss. Regular cleaning primarily focuses on scaling and polishing the outer surface of the teeth along the gum line. In contrast, deep cleaning involves removing colonies, bacteria, and tartar from the roots of your teeth.

What is Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning?

Here are the definitions:

Regular Dental Cleaning

You will receive a routine dental cleaning during a regular six-month checkup at Dr. Teeth Dental Care in Katy. This type of cleaning involves using special tools by your hygienist to remove hard tartar deposits and sticky plaque from the surfaces of your teeth above your gums. The main purpose of these cleanings is to prevent gum disease and treat mild forms of the disease, such as gingivitis. Routine cleanings also allow your hygienist to check your brushing and flossing techniques and make any necessary corrections.

Moreover, having your teeth cleaned every six months helps prevent bad breath. A regular checkup is typically combined with a routine cleaning to allow the dentist near you to examine your teeth, screen for oral cancer, and take X-rays if necessary.

Deep Dental Cleaning

Deep dental cleaning is a specialized cleaning method that eliminates plaque, tartar, and bacteria below the gum line and down to the tooth roots. Bacteria that cause gum disease tend to hide in the hard tartar deposits on the surfaces of your teeth, which are protected by your gums. As these bacteria grow and multiply, they release toxins that irritate your gums and create pockets where bacteria can migrate down to the roots, leading to infections that can weaken the roots and cause tooth loss.

Deep dental cleaning eliminates bacteria below the gum line and around the roots to prevent gum disease from advancing and causing tooth loss. Additionally, the dentist will smooth or plane the surfaces of your tooth roots to make it more difficult for bacteria to stick in the future.

During the cleaning, an antibiotic gel may be applied to the teeth to kill hard-to-reach germs, or oral antibiotics or a special mouthwash may be prescribed. Since the process goes beneath the gum line, local anesthesia is applied to numb the gums, and sedation may be used for patients who are anxious or have sensitive gums.

Difference between Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

Regular dental cleaning and deep dental cleaning differ mainly in their level of thoroughness. Regular cleaning aims to maintain tooth cleanliness and prevent cavities and gum disease. It typically involves scaling to remove surface tartar that has not yet affected the gums. However, a deep cleaning becomes necessary when tartar build-up is more significant and requires removal from the roots of teeth.

Deep cleaning goes beyond the surface of teeth to eliminate calculus and debris that accumulate around the roots of teeth. It is a more demanding procedure than regular cleaning and may require multiple visits to your dentist in Katy for success. The process requires careful monitoring of teeth and gums, especially for people with sensitive teeth or periodontal disease. Root planing, which is not done during regular cleaning, is a critical aspect of deep dental cleaning. It involves using a special tool to clean deep into pockets and removing tartar and plaque to discourage bacteria growth.

Is Deep Cleaning Teeth Necessary?

Below are the reasons and situations when deep dental cleaning is required:

• If a hygienist recommends deep teeth cleaning during your regular dental visit.
• When stubborn tartar cannot be removed from the surface of your teeth, it may have hardened and need to be deep-scaled.
• If you have had gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis before.
• When the gum pockets are more than 5 millimeters deep, you may be at risk of periodontal disease, and deep dental cleaning is necessary.

Is Dental Deep Cleaning Safe?

It’s good to know the potential complications or side effects associated with deep cleanings, despite being a common and safe procedure. While some sensitivity and swelling are expected after the process, risks are still involved. If you experience prolonged swelling, bleeding, or pain beyond a week after your deep cleaning, it’s best to consult your dentist.