How Long Does Deep Teeth Cleaning Take?
When bacterial plaque remains on the surfaces of the teeth, it can build up at and below the gum line, calcifying and turning into tartar. While conscientious brushing can remove most bacteria and plaque from the teeth above the gums, it’s common for some plaque to remain and gradually harden. During professional dental cleanings, dental hygienists remove this plaque and tartar, polishing the tooth surfaces to reduce the likelihood of future tartar buildup. When plaque and tartar aren’t thoroughly removed, however, these bacterial materials can accumulate below the gum line, creating inflamed pockets between the gums and teeth. As the gums become more and more inflamed, these pockets grow deeper and harbor more and more plaque and tartar, gradually destroying the oral tissues, increasing the risk of systemic infection, and leading to tooth loss and bone loss.
Compared to the avalanche of disastrous effects that can arise from untreated periodontal disease, a deep teeth cleaning is barely a drop in the bucket. Deep teeth cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, is a painless procedure that removes tartar and plaque from below the gum line and from the surfaces of the tooth roots. The procedure is performed after the area to be treated has been numbed with local anesthetic, which means it’s painless, though you can expect some tenderness or sensitivity after the anesthetic wears off. Typically, a complete deep teeth cleaning is completed in more than one visit, with most cleanings split up into two appointments. Each procedure should take about an hour, though this varies depending on the amounts of plaque and tartar that have built up. Your dentist will reapply anesthesia as needed if the procedure takes longer, ensuring your comfort for the entirety of each procedure.
Focusing on one quadrant of the mouth at a time, the dentist first uses handheld tools and ultrasonic instruments to remove all traces of plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth, both above and below the gum line and on the surfaces of the tooth roots. Once the entirety of each tooth is completely clean, or scaled, the dentist smooths and shapes the tooth surfaces, leaving a polished plane that’s less hospitable to bacterial buildup, before the entire area is rinsed with antibacterial rinse. This procedure helps reduce inflammation in the gums and allows them to return to their protective position snugly surrounding the teeth.
When intercepted early, gum disease can be reversed, and the oral tissues can return to health. Once it has progressed into periodontal disease, there is no cure, but there are measures you and your dentist can take to minimize the damaging effects of periodontal disease. A dental deep clean is the most common and effective of these measures, providing a clean slate for a maintenance routine that can help keep the oral tissues as disease-free as possible. After a brief recovery period, during which the gums and teeth may feel tender and sensitive, you can help keep the oral tissues healthy by making sure to brush your teeth gently and effectively, using fluoride toothpaste, at least twice a day, and using floss or another interdental cleaning tool to clean between the teeth and remove plaque at the gum line. Visit your dentist at least every six months for routine checkups and cleanings to help maintain the beneficial effects of your deep teeth cleaning, and do your part to prevent gum disease and ensure you won’t need another deep teeth cleaning.