We know that it’s important to keep up with our dental hygiene and dental appointments. Sometimes, if we don’t, we can be diagnosed with a condition called gum disease which requires more intense cleaning and care than we typically see at our six-month check-ups.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a disease that affects the gums and teeth. It’s caused when the teeth are not consistently brushed, cleaned, and flossed thoroughly. This allows plaque to build upon the teeth and makes the gums sore and inflamed.
The gums pull away from the teeth, making pockets of space. These pockets allow more plaque to get under the gumline. In some cases, when gum disease is caught in time, regular dental cleaning can help. Sometimes, the gum disease has progressed to the point a deep scale cleaning is needed, instead.
What Is A Deep Scale Cleaning?
Deep scale cleaning is a procedure that is meant to clean tartar and plaque from the teeth under the gumline. It’s necessary to prevent tooth loss and help restore the mouth to a healthy state.
This is a two-part procedure. The first part involves the doctor cleaning the teeth above and below the gumline, getting to the bottom of the pockets in your gums. You will be numbed with a local anesthetic, so this should not be painful.
The second portion is called the root scaling. This is where the roots of your teeth are shaped by the dentist to allow the gums to attach back to your teeth more easily as they heal.
Recovery And Aftercare
While the procedure itself may not be painful, you might experience pain and tooth sensitivity temporarily. You may expect there to be swelling, bleeding, and tenderness of the gums as you heal.
Your dentist will probably give you medication in the form of pills or a mouth rinse to make sure you don’t get an infection after your procedure. The dentist may also insert medication into the pocket to help prevent infection. You may receive pain medication depending on your situation.
Another portion of aftercare is making sure you keep good oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing, and seeing a dentist regularly. Your dentist will want to see you and monitor the healing of your gums and check the depth of any pockets you may have had after you have a deep cleaning procedure done.
Dental Care
Getting regular dental care by a trusted dental team is integral to your oral health and can help you avoid gum disease. If you are local to the Ogden, Utah area, you might want to reach out to the team at North View Dental to schedule an appointment for a cleaning or questions about your dental needs.
Their professional and comfortable office space will put your mind at ease as you work together with the team to make sure your oral health is at its very best. Call today.