Deep cleanings in Providence, RI, are prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with gum disease. These cleanings help arrest the disease and prevent disease progression. Since periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, your dentist will recommend a deep cleaning to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
If you have gum disease, you’re at risk of losing your teeth. Gum disease can also wreak havoc on your overall health, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease can travel through your bloodstream and damage weak areas of your body (joint replacements, for instance).
Thankfully, you can arrest gum disease caught early enough with a deep dental cleaning. Your dentist might also recommend antibiotic treatment in conjunction with the deep cleaning to ensure the best results.
With regular maintenance cleanings and good dental home care practices, you can keep periodontal disease at bay.
The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis (inflammation of the gum tissue). At this stage, the disease can be reversed. Once the disease progresses beyond gingivitis, it can no longer be reversed, but it can be arrested with proper treatment.
At Comfort Dental, we offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services in Providence and Central Falls, RI, and our experts will help you choose the right options for your smile.
Inflamed gums (red, puffy)
Discolored gums (bright red, magenta, purple)
Sore gums
Gum pockets deeper than three millimeters
Gum recession and root exposure
Bleeding when you brush or floss
Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Toothaches
Gum abscess or exudate
Your hygienist will numb your teeth and gums with a local anesthetic during your appointment. Since we must take time to numb the tissues and clean to the base of deeper than average gum pockets, we typically only clean one to two quadrants of your mouth at a time. We usually work on the left side one day and the right at another appointment.
Once you’re adequately numb, the hygienist uses a variety of instruments to clean the plaque and tartar off the teeth, around the gum line, and into the gum pockets. Sometimes, they’ll use an ultrasonic scaler, which uses water and high vibration to gently break apart the tartar, making the cleaning process easier and faster.
A deep cleaning should not be painful. However, you may experience some discomfort if you have sore gums or sensitive teeth. Thankfully, all patients are numbed at the start of the deep cleaning.
Once the anesthetic wears off, you might experience some gum soreness or tooth sensitivity. Warm saltwater rinses will help reduce inflammation, as can an anti-inflammatory (like ibuprofen) if you are medically able to take one. Your dentist might also apply a fluoride varnish to reduce any tooth sensitivity.
During the deep cleaning, you can expect some pressure on your teeth, some scraping noises, and water spray. For some patients, particularly those with high dental anxiety, these things can increase their discomfort. In these cases, we can utilize dental sedation to increase patient comfort.
Some people think that losing your teeth is a natural part of aging. It’s not. You can keep your teeth for a lifetime – even if you have a history of periodontal disease. If you invest in periodontal treatments, like a deep cleaning at Comfort Dental, you can arrest even advanced gum disease and reduce your risk of losing your teeth. But it’s imperative that you act as quickly as possible. We look forward to helping you reclaim your oral health.
Do you have red, puffy gums that bleed? You might need a deep dental cleaning.
Contact us to schedule an evaluation.
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