Deep Dental Cleaning: What to Expect During Scaling and Root Planing

Bacteria are a complex form of life; many harmful ones lead to disease and other problems, but we also carry a multitude of bacteria in our bodies that maintain our health, known as the microbiome. With proper care, our oral microbiome helps protect teeth from dangers. However, when harmful bacteria enter, we deal with plaque, tartar, and tooth decay.

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing help reduce the harm that plaque and other harmful substances do to our mouths, but to ensure your teeth stay their cleanest, deep cleanings are periodically necessary. If you schedule a deep cleaning and have never had one before, here are some insights on what happens and how to help retain the results.

Brea and Banning, California, residents looking to get their teeth their cleanest can count on  Dr. Ayed Hawatmeh and the Bravo Dental Group medical team. We offer a range of services to maintain their health, including deep dental cleanings.

Deep dental cleaning basics

Deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, involves the use of specialized tools that are applied directly to the teeth. If you have bad breath or swollen or bleeding gums, this method removes tartar buildup and plaque from teeth, both on the surfaces and at the gumline, where gum disease can cause further infection and significant damage. 

Even if you practice excellent dental hygiene, the possibility of harmful substances gathering in areas you can’t reach leads to problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Therefore, everyone needs this treatment at some point to protect their teeth.

The scaling and root planing process

The process begins with an anesthetic on the gums to numb them. Then, the tools work to scrape the teeth above and below the gums (scaling) and clean out the tooth roots (planing). Deep dental cleaning utilizes either a curette (a metal, hook-like tool) or a hydraulic scaler to remove tartar and plaque from teeth, thereby preventing the spread of disease at the gumline. 

Depending on the amount of work required, these cleanings can take several hours, divided into multiple sessions. If you’re nervous about the process, IV sedation is an option to help us treat your teeth and keep you comfortable.

Post-treatment expectations

When everything gets finished, your teeth are cleaner; however, for the next day or so, tenderness, swelling, some bleeding, and tooth sensitivity are normal. To manage possible infection, medications, mouth rinses, or even a direct dose of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline can be prescribed (the latter gets placed in the cleaned areas).

After the gums have had time to heal, we schedule a follow-up appointment to assess progress and determine if you need additional treatments. 

Dental hygiene is always important, but not consistently enough. For deep dental cleanings or a range of other dental treatments, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Hawatmeh and Bravo Dental Group today by contacting our office in Banning, Corona, or Hemet, California, or booking online.