How Long Does Deep Teeth Cleaning Take?
When the dentist has determined that you have gum disease and that you should treat it with a deep cleaning, the next step is to find out what is involved in a deep cleaning. The treatment is called root planing and scaling and it cleans the surface of the teeth below the gumline. The dentist cleans the teeth above the gumline during your regular dental appointments so the root planing and scaling is more thorough.
Depending on your gum diseases progression, the dentist may need to deep clean all of your teeth. If this is the case, the deep cleaning will take place over two appointments. The dentist will use tools to deep clean your teeth that are similar to the ones used during your other dental cleanings.
A deep cleaning should not be painful for you, but it may be uncomfortable. The dentist typically will use a local anesthetic or a topical one to help you stay at ease during the procedure. If the dentist uses a local anesthetic, then you may feel a sharp but quick pain with the injection. The dentist will wait to begin cleaning until the numbing sensation has taken over that area of your mouth.
The appointments will last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours and you should have about two appointments to properly address your whole mouth. The deep cleaning should take just a little more time than your average dental appointments.
You should continue to keep your twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings while taking care to brush at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush, floss, and use an oral rinse to keep the bacteria from allowing the gum disease to come back. The goal of the deep cleaning is to return your mouth to healthy condition and to not have to have another deep cleaning. For some people, you may need another deep cleaning at some point in the future, but ideally, gum disease will not be a problem for you again.
You will not know if you need a deep cleaning without seeing a dentist first and having a dental exam, but you may want to make that first appointment if you have any of the following symptoms of gum disease:
- Bleeding, sensitive gums
- Swollen, red gums
- Gums receding away from your teeth
- Persistent halitosis or bad breath
- Chipped or loose teeth
A deep cleaning may not be able to resolve a serious case of gum disease, but it can stop it from getting worse. Without addressing it, you could lose your teeth, experience receding gums, or even bone loss in your jaw. A deep cleaning can allow the gums to heal back into place next to the teeth and support the teeth securely. The longer you can wait to worry about replacing missing teeth, the better your overall health will be. By keeping all your own teeth, you will be able to confidently speak, share your smile, and enjoy a diet rich in unprocessed foods.