The short answer: a regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar above the gumline and is for healthy gums. A deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, cleans below the gumline when gum disease has formed pockets around the teeth. Your dentist decides which you need by measuring those pockets at your exam, not by how your teeth look.
"My insurance says I need a deep cleaning. Do I really?" is one of the most common questions we hear at De Anza Smiles. Here is how Dr. Insiya Saboowala explains it.
What a regular cleaning does
A regular cleaning (a prophylaxis) is preventive. The hygienist removes plaque and hardened tartar from the tooth surfaces and just at the gumline, then polishes. It is meant for gums that are healthy or only mildly inflamed, and most people need one every six months.
What a deep cleaning does
When plaque sits below the gumline for long enough, the gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets. Bacteria collect in those pockets where a toothbrush, floss or a regular cleaning cannot reach. A deep cleaning:
- Scaling: removes tartar and bacteria from the tooth roots below the gumline
- Root planing: smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach and the pockets can shrink
- Numbing: the area is numbed so you are comfortable, and it is often done one side of the mouth at a time
How we decide which one you need
At your exam we gently measure the space between each tooth and the gum. Healthy gums measure a few millimeters. Deeper pockets, bleeding when measured, and bone loss on X-rays point to gum disease, and that is when a deep cleaning is the right treatment. If your gums are healthy, a regular cleaning is all you need, and we will tell you so.
Signs your gums may need more than a regular cleaning
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bad breath that does not go away
- Gums that look like they are pulling back from the teeth
- Teeth that feel loose or have started to shift
Gum disease is often painless in its early stages, which is why regular checkups matter even when nothing hurts.
Where laser gum treatment fits in
At De Anza Smiles we use the EPIC™ diode laser by Biolase to treat gum disease more comfortably. Alongside scaling and root planing, the laser helps remove infected tissue and bacteria from the pockets. Read more about our laser gum treatment.
Why not just wait? Untreated gum disease does not stay still. Over time it can destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place. Treating it early is simpler, more comfortable and less expensive than treating it late.
After a deep cleaning
- Your gums may be tender for a few days; a warm salt-water rinse helps
- Brush gently and keep flossing, even if the gums bleed a little at first
- We usually see you back to re-measure the pockets and check that the gums are healing
- Some patients then need cleanings more often than every six months to keep gum disease in check
Gum care in Cupertino
If your gums bleed or you have been told you need a deep cleaning, book an exam with Dr. Saboowala at our office on Pacifica Drive. We will show you your measurements and explain your options before any treatment. Call (408) 255-1700 or request an appointment.