Knowing what type of oral care best suits your needs can improve your dental experience. Here is what you can expect from your dental visits for regular and deep cleanings.
Consistent Regular Cleaning
Most patients have regular cleanings every 3 to 6 months to monitor changes in their oral health and encourage healthy dental habits.
Experienced dental hygienists conduct regular cleanings, including brushing, flossing, and X-rays, before your dentist inspects your teeth. Cleaning appointments typically last 30 minutes for kids and up to an hour for adults, depending on your needs.
Signs to Schedule a Dental Deep Cleaning
Patients often go in for regular cleanings without realizing they need more intensive care. Your dentist will schedule a deep dental cleaning when you experience the following:
- Bleeding gums after brushing teeth or flossing
- Loosening of the teeth
- Pus or redness and swelling of the gums
- If you have previously had gum disease
- It has been longer than six months since your last teeth cleaning
How Is Deep Cleaning Different?
Regular cleaning is beneficial to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. If your dentist notices plaque and tartar on or below the gumline, bone loss, or bleeding upon examination of the gums, it may be time for a deeper cleaning. Dental deep cleaning, also known as periodontal (perio) maintenance, involves scaling and root planing.
Scaling
Scaling and root planing occur when your hygienist removes tartar and bacteria attached to the roots below the gumline.
Root Planing
Root planing is when your dentist removes plaque and tartar from the surface of the roots.
Deep cleanings sometimes require more than one visit to properly monitor a patient’s oral care. Your dentist will evaluate your progress and determine if further care is necessary.
Be Proactive With Your Dental Care
Outside of your regularly scheduled dental visits, taking care of your teeth and gums can help prevent gum disease. A few ways to improve your oral care at home include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes
- Floss between your teeth daily
- Communicate concerns to your dentist when necessary
Your smile is unique and may be affected by other factors such as diet, oral care habits, and genetics. Asking your dentist for a customized dental care plan is the first step to long-term oral health.
Dental Deep Cleaning Vs. Regular Cleaning at Full Heart
Whether you need perio maintenance or regular cleaning, the Full Heart team supports you throughout the process. When you trust Full Heart Dentistry with your dental health, you become a part of the family — and we always take care of our family.
If you still have questions regarding deep dental cleaning versus regular cleaning, our team has the solutions you need when you need them.
The smile of your dreams is only one call away. Schedule your dental appointment today.