Are your ? If so, a deep dental cleaning might be on the agenda at your next dentist appointment. Your dentist might recommend a deep cleaning when you develop certain concerning signs of gum disease, like receding gums, bone loss or loose teeth, Dr. Sally Cram, periodontist based in Washington, D.
C., and spokesperson for the American Dental Association, tells TODAY.com.
"When that gum starts pulling away and the gums are very inflamed, your dentist may say, We need to do more than just a regular cleaning above your gums," Cram says. Unlike a routine dental cleaning, the techniques used in a deep cleaning get below the gum line to remove bacteria stuck there. The procedure, which involves local anesthetic to temporarily numb part of the mouth, can sound dramatic.
But, experts say, it's a conservative treatment that can help — and help your mouth feel much better. It’s similar to your usual routine cleaning, but goes deeper beneath the gum line where brushing and flossing simply can’t reach. Technically, a deep dental cleaning involves two procedures: tooth scaling and root planing, Dr.
Elbert Tom, assistant clinical professor and group practice director at the UCLA School of Dentistry, tells TODAY.com. Tooth scaling removes tartar at and below the gum line, the .
And root planing smooths out the root of the tooth to help the gums reattach. "Regular cleanings are generally above the gum and maybe a millimeter or two below the gum," Cram says, but root planing gets down f.