Deep Dental Cleanings

Your gums are just as important as your teeth! Healthy gums and connective ligaments keep teeth anchored. When gum health deteriorates, a downward spiral of dental concerns develop. Our team will help keep your gums, connective tissues, and teeth strong and reliable. All you have to do is attend your appointments and practice good oral hygiene.

If you see or feel abnormalities in your mouth, schedule an appointment today. We’ll discuss your concerns, conduct a thorough exam, and determine the best treatment plan to restore and support your great oral health.

Gum Disease: The Main Cause of Tooth Loss for Adults

About half of Americans have some level of gum disease, from gingivitis to advanced periodontitis. If the condition is not treated early, the resulting damage can grow from red, swollen gums with little or no pain to deeply receded, dying or dead gum tissue that requires surgical removal.

While gum disease is progressive and chronic, treatment and good oral healthcare can stop the progression and eliminate pain.

Signs of gum disease include:

• Red, swollen gums
• Bleeding upon brushing teeth
• Chronic bad breath
• Pain or soreness of the gums, teeth, or jaw
• Periodontal pockets — literal pockets that form between teeth and gums

What Is a Deep Dental Cleaning?

A dentist or hygienist prescribes deep dental cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, after identifying periodontal pockets. Hardened plaque, called tartar or calculus, builds up first at the gum line, then below it. Plaque and tartar contain harmful bacteria that destroy connective tissues holding gums to teeth roots.

During your regular dental cleanings, the hygienist will probe periodontal pockets and chart gum recession. Increased depths since your last visit indicate that gum disease is progressing. Decreased depths tell us that your gums are healing.

A deep cleaning involves scaling, to remove plaque and tartar below the gum line, and root planing to smooth the teeth roots so that plaque has no place to accumulate below the gums. For your comfort, anesthetic may be administered before this procedure.

Deep cleaning, unlike a regular dental cleaning, is usually not scheduled in conjunction with a dental checkup. In some cases, if deep cleaning is going to take more than an hour or so, you may be offered the opportunity to complete the procedure over two visits.

The purposes of a deep dental cleaning are to clean teeth below the gumline, reduce the potential for continued plaque accumulation on teeth roots, and promote the natural regrowth of healthy tissues and reattachment of gums to teeth.

Deep dental cleaning can help your gums heal, which will reduce symptoms, including pain. Reattachment also eliminates periodontal pockets and stops the advancement of periodontitis.

Symptoms and Risks

Gum disease can develop due to:

• Poor oral healthcare
• Poor oral health
• Poor nutrition
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Hormones
• Taking certain medications
• Certain diseases
• Mouth breathing
• Dry mouth
• Tobacco use
• Regular overindulgence in alcohol

Schedule Your Checkup and Cleaning Now

If you have not had a dental checkup or cleaning in six months, schedule one now. Dr. Reza and the American Dental Association recommend checkups and cleanings every six months. In addition, if you’ve noticed symptoms of gum disease, schedule an assessment today. Call Reza Dental Care in South Gate, CA at 323-457-8787