What is a Periodontal Cleaning?
What is a Periodontal Cleaning?
Dentists recommend professional teeth cleaning twice a year. This helps keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking their best. During a professional teeth cleaning procedure the doctor or hygienist removes the plaque and tartar on the surface of the teeth and under the gum line. Plaque is the result of bacteria in the mouth. It is a sticky substance which adheres to the teeth. If left untreated the plaque becomes a hard substance known as tartar. Both plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). This is when your doctor may recommend periodontal cleaning.
What to Expect
Periodontal cleaning is also known as scaling and root planing. It normally takes more than one appointment to complete. A local anesthetic is used to make the procedure more comfortable. The doctor or hygienist removes, or scales, all the plaque and tartar from the root surfaces and surfaces of your teeth. Next the roots are planed which smooths them out to help prevent bacteria, plaque, and tartar from adhering to your teeth. Planing also allows your gums to reattach and heal more firmly.
Gum Disease and Periodontal Cleaning
Gingivitis is a painful and common disease. It is the inflammation of the gums and causes deep pocket to form around the teeth. Healthy gums should be tightly adhered to the teeth, and there should only be one to three millimeters in depth. If you have gingivitis or gum disease, pockets of four millimeters may develop increasing the danger of bacteria and plaque entering the pocket and progressing the disease even further. Periodontal cleaning removes the plaque, bacteria, and tartar from around the teeth and gums and gives your gums a chance to heal.
After Care
After periodontal cleaning your doctor will put you on a schedule of maintenance visits. During these visits, she will check the healing of your gums, measure your gum pockets, and provide routine cleaning. Maintenance visits are usually every two to four months. After periodontal cleaning it is important to keep up with good at home oral hygiene. Brush and floss twice a day, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. Your doctor may also recommend an anti-bacterial mouthwash to help prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth.
If you notice your gums are bleeding or receding, you may have gingivitis. There is no need to suffer, call or contact Dr. Taylor today and ask if periodontal cleaning may be a good option for you.