What Happens During a Deep Dental Cleaning

Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once, and using a mouthwash twice daily after brushing is the best day-to-day method to maintain oral hygiene between semi-annual dental checkups and cleaning. However, under certain circumstances, you may need a deep cleaning to stop the progression of early-stage periodontal disease. Let’s take a look at what a deep dental cleaning is, how to determine if a deep cleaning is needed, and how to prepare for one.

What Is a Deep Dental Cleaning?

A deep dental cleaning starts out similar to a regular cleaning. But first things first, starting with dental plaque. As Dentalcare.com explains, “Dental plaque is a sticky, colorless or pale yellow film that is constantly forming on your teeth. When saliva, food and fluids combine, plaque - which contains bacteria - forms between your teeth and along the gum line. Dental plaque begins forming on teeth 4-12 hours after brushing, which is why it is so important to brush thoroughly at least twice a day and floss daily.”

This is also why semi-annual professional cleanings are important. Even excellent oral hygiene practices at home can’t eliminate all of the plaque that turns into tartar. Unless tartar is regularly removed by a dental hygienist, it builds up, putting you at risk for - or in the initial stages of - periodontal disease. Deep cleaning is necessary when tartar buildup has caused your gums to become infected, which results in pockets - a widening of the gumline that has pulled away from the tooth (or teeth). This represents loss of connective tissue that can lead to bone loss and, eventually, tooth loss.

As the American Dental Association (ADA) describes, this deep cleaning consists of two parts: scaling and root planing. Scaling is when your dentist, dental hygienist or periodontist removes all the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, cleaning all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Your dental provider will then begin root planing, smoothing out your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. 

The deep cleaning process involves different tools than those used in a regular cleaning. The dental professional providing your treatment will use either manual scaling tools or electric/ultrasonic instruments to remove plaque and tartar from gum pockets and near tooth roots. Deep cleaning teeth typically requires one or two visits. The process should take around one to two hours each time, and a local anesthetic may be used to minimize potential discomfort. Scaling and root planing should not be a painful experience, however.

How to Determine If a Deep Cleaning Is Needed

So, how will you know if you need a deep cleaning? During the examination, your dental provider will use a tool called a probe, placing it beside your tooth beneath your gumline. In a healthy mouth, the pocket depth is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters (mm). Pockets deeper than 4 mm may indicate periodontitis. Your dentist may also take x-rays to see if bone loss has occurred.

Some signs you can look for in your gums and teeth that might indicate the need for a deep dental cleaning include:

Scaling and root planing will be the first treatment step if your dental provider determines you have gum disease, or periodontitis. Other treatments will fall under the category of periodontics, which is the area of dentistry focusing on the supporting structures of the teeth, most notably the gums and mouth bones. 

How to Prepare for a Deep Cleaning

Once you find out you need to have a deep dental cleaning, you’ll need to prepare. Write down your medical history before the appointment so you can communicate it with your dental provider. You’ll want to have all significant conditions or medical events ready to discuss so that your dentist can take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety.

It’s possible for the procedure to release bacteria into your bloodstream. Those who have a weakened immune system due to a heart condition, HIV/AIDS, liver disease, joint replacement or any similar medical issue will need special attention. Your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic before your appointment to reduce the risk of infection. If you take blood thinner medication, consult with your doctor to see if you can pause your dose prior to the appointment. NEVER discontinue any prescription medication for any length of time without consulting your doctor.

After the procedure, you should expect a follow-up appointment in about four to six weeks. To ensure your gum health is maintained, your dentist may also ask you to make an appointment for regular cleanings and checkups every three months instead of semi-annually - at least for a while. You may also receive further treatment from a periodontist.

Deep Dental Cleaning in Chicago

Are you looking for a dentist in the Chicago area who can perform deep dental cleanings? NK Family Dental is again open for patients. We offer both dental and periodontics services, provided by dentist Dr. Nilofer Khan and periodontist Dr. Waeil Elmisalati. Learn more about our leading dental and periodontal services in Bucktown and Logan Square, and schedule an appointment with us today! We look forward to getting your oral health back on track.

Is My Child’s Thumbsucking Habit Really that Bad?

Thumbsucking is a common habit among newborns and infants. However, when the habit persists past two years old, it might be time to help your child quit. Thumbsucking in children beyond two years of age can lead to significant dental problems as their teeth begin to grow and develop, and it can also lead to difficulties in emotional development. While it is important to talk with a children’s dentist - also known as a pediatric dentist - it’s just as important to understand the psychology behind thumbsucking.

In this blog post, we discuss the psychology behind the addictive behavior of thumbsucking, the long-term effects thumbsucking on teeth and how to help your child break the habit in an encouraging way.

Thumbsucking: The First Addiction

If your child continues sucking his or her thumb past infancy, he or she has likely developing a thumbsucking addiction. Similar to breaking other addictions or bad habits (like nail biting), the quitting process takes time, patience, understanding, support and consistency. Your responsibility as a parent is to help your child end harmful habits in a compassionate way. 

So, what are the signs and likely causes of a thumbsucking addiction in your child?

When it comes to the signs, any child older than an infant (ages 3 or 4), who frequently sucks their thumb has likely developed an addiction. This is because as they get older, thumbsucking children have likely developed an automatic and familiar pathway for their thumb into their mouth. Most children do this subconsciously, which makes breaking the habit even more difficult.

Thumbsucking is a natural means of self-calming for infants. As Susan Heitler Ph.D. notes

In her article for Psychology Today:

“In a study with premature infants, researchers found that infants who sucked their thumbs or a pacifier had shorter hospital stays. That was because rhythmic sucking soothed them so that they spent less energy crying. Sucking actually re-optimized the heart beats and breathing patterns of upset babies, slowing them and regularizing the rhythms.”

Additionally, Heitler writes that infants who suck their thumb or a pacifier have been found to be more emotionally independent due to their self-generating stress relief. However, the behavior that delivers some benefits very early in life becomes detrimental as a child grows into the toddler stage and beyond.

Having a thumbsucking habit as an infant that develops into an addiction as a child gets older is categorized as a self-reinforcing behavior. Older children no longer need to suck their thumbs once they develop the ability to find other ways of calming and entertaining themselves, but may continue due to the fact that it simply feels good as a comforting behavior, thus becoming a pervasive addictive behavior. This early addiction can halt the emotional development of your child once they become reliant on thumbsucking for comfort and emotional support.

Long Term Effects of Thumbsucking on Teeth

So, then, what about your child’s teeth? Thumbsucking can seriously interfere with how your child’s mouth and teeth develop. Children who are more intense thumbsuckers are often more likely to experience early problems sooner with their primary teeth. Permanent teeth in long-time thumbsucking children may develop problems as the teeth grow in, causing malalignments such as an overbite. The roof of your child’s mouth can also be affected by prolonged thumbsucking. Dental problems caused by thumbsucking will require extensive dental and orthodontic care - such as braces - as your child gets older.

Helping Your Child Break the Thumbsucking Habit

There are many effective ways to help your child break his or her thumbsucking habit. All they require is patience and consistency. Shaming and making your child feel bad for thumbsucking is not effective in breaking the habit, and can negatively impact their emotional well-being. Instead, be encouraging and explain your child’s options for quitting thumbsucking, and why it’s important to quit for their dental and emotional health.

Further methods to help your child stop thumbsucking include:

Compassionate Pediatric Dentistry

Whether you need help to end your child’s thumbsucking habit or just need an experienced pediatric dentist, NK Family Dental welcomes you. Our pediatric dental services include complete checkups, preventive treatments and restorations. For adults, we provide a wide range of dental services, including periodontics treatments. Start taking care of your family’s dental health by contacting NK Family Dental to schedule your appointment with Dr. Nilofer Khan or Dr. Waeil Elmisalati.