What’s the Difference Between Routine Dental Cleaning and Deep Cleaning?

A regular dental check-up and cleaning is important to your oral hygiene and health. Sometimes, you need something a little more, though. At Absolute smile, we offer dental cleaning in Philadelphia to help ensure good oral health. Let’s look at the differences between routine dental cleaning and deep cleaning so you know which is right for you.

What Happens During Routine Dental Cleaning?

During routine dental cleaning, your hygienist uses tools to remove plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth above the gum line. They follow this with a gritty toothpaste brushing over the teeth, expert flossing, and fluoride treatment to help protect your teeth against cavities until your next visit.

Routine cleanings usually accompany a dental check-up. The cleaning helps your dentist see to the health of your teeth and gums and look for potential problems like cavities or gum disease.

What Happens During a Deep Cleaning?

Deep cleaning gets below the gum line to clean between the gum and root. If you have a large build-up of tartar on your teeth and roots, a deep cleaning will help clear build-up and prevent bacterial infections. You may need a deep cleaning if you’ve not been to your dentist in a while, however even if you make your schedule appointments and cleanings, you may still get deep build-up depending on your everyday hygiene habits, diet, and overall health.

When Do You Need a Deep Cleaning vs Routine Cleaning?

If your dentist sees that your teeth are red or swollen or if he finds buildup beneath the gumline during your dental exam, he may recommend a deep cleaning. He may also recommend a deep cleaning,

• If you haven’t had a dental visit in a long time
• If you have a gum disease like gingivitis or periodontitis alongside your treatment
• As part of your yearly dental health procedures

What Happens If You Need a Deep Cleaning?

A deep cleaning procedure typically involves six steps:

• Discussion to talk about dental history and changes, as well as recommend X-rays or a comprehensive examination.
• Periodontal charting to measure gum sockets and look for signs of gum disease.
• Scaling with an ultrasonic device to remove plaque and tartar from teeth.
• Polishing with gritty toothpaste to smooth the teeth.
• Flossing to help ensure all plaque residue is removed.
• Fluoride treatment to help protect the teeth between routine cleanings.

Are You Looking Dental Cleaning in Philadelphia, PA?

Absolute Smile is here to meet your tooth replacement needs. We will examine your mouth and teeth and provide you with the cleaning you need. Contact us today to make an appointment. Take advantage of our free new patient consultation to meet our staff and choose your new family dentist.