Is Deep Teeth Cleaning Painful?
Now that you have had your appointment with the dentist for your exam and the dentist has told you that you should have a deep cleaning, what does that mean? Typically, dentists use deep cleanings to remove tartar that has built up along the gum line and on the root of teeth. Without removing the tartar, the gums will continue to be inflamed and the health of the teeth are at risk. Gum disease can be stopped and even reversed when the dentist uses deep cleaning early enough.
How does the dentist determine if I need a deep cleaning?
Dentists do not recommend deep cleanings to all their patients with tartar on the roots of their teeth. Instead, the dentist will use multiple tools throughout the exam to review the overall health of your gums and teeth.
First the dentist will perform an exam to check for swollen or bleeding gums. The dentist may check to see if any of your teeth are able to be moved. If your teeth are able to be shifted by light pressure from a finger, then the gums are not keeping the tooth securely in place. The dentist will also measure the gaps between your gums and teeth using a special tool called a perioprobe. If the gums are too far away from the tooth root, then gum disease has started to affect your dental health. Finally, the dentist can review your dental x-rays to determine the health of your teeth below the gums, bone density, and any potential bone loss. These are all steps of a typical dental exam, so there should not be any unfamiliar tools or discomfort.
After the dentist performs the routine exam and reviews your records, the dentist can determine if a deep cleaning is the next step of your treatment plan. A deep cleaning is able to address gum disease that can’t be removed with a routine cleaning or at home brushing.
Does a deep cleaning hurt?
Deep cleanings are more thorough than the regular dental cleanings and they address the surface of your tooth below the gums so you are most likely going to find there is some pain or discomfort from the deep cleaning. As a way to keep you comfortable during the cleaning, the dentist can numb the area of your mouth before the procedure starts. After the injection, you will only feel pressure and potentially some vibration of the equipment on your teeth. You will not feel pain during the deep cleaning.
Depending on your particular needs, the dentist may need to deep clean one area of your mouth or the whole so you may need to have more than one appointment to deep clean all the areas that need addressing. In many cases when the whole mouth needs treatment, only half of the mouth is deep cleaned during one appointment.
After your deep cleaning appointment you may find that your mouth is sore or your gums are more sensitive briefly. The long term benefits outweigh the short term discomfort.