Types of Dental Hygiene Cleanings

What’s the Difference Between a Regular Cleaning & a Deep Cleaning?

Not all dental cleanings are alike. There’s a regular cleaning, which is the standard if you’re coming in for your semiannual dentist’s visit. Then there’s a deep cleaning, which is more extensive. Given the status of your oral health, our Oakboro Family Dentistry team will recommend which one you should get and how often. Here’s a little bit more about the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning.

The Scoop on Regular Teeth Cleanings

A regular teeth cleaning is the one that most people will get when they visit Oakboro Family Dentistry every six months. During this cleaning, our hygienist removes any plaque and tartar that has built up on the teeth and around the gums. Fun fact: Only a dental professional with special tools can remove tartar. It’s not something you can do at home! The hygienist will also scrub away surface stains, polish your teeth, and floss your teeth.

The Deal with Deep Cleanings

A deep cleaning is used to treat gum disease. Unless you have gum disease, you should be fine with just getting a regular teeth cleaning. A deep cleaning is sometimes called a scaling and root planing. The scaling part refers to scraping away plaque and tartar that’s on the tooth and under the gumline. The root planing part of the name refers to the process of smoothing out the tooth root so that the gums can reattach. Oftentimes, a local anesthetic is used with a deep cleaning to minimize patient discomfort. Keeping your gums healthy is an important part of your overall oral health.

Dental Hygiene Cleanings at Oakboro Family Dentistry

Whether you need your run-of-the-mill dental cleaning or you need to get a deep cleaning to handle gum disease, you can come to us at Oakboro Family Dentistry. We provide both services, and we’re happy to answer any additional questions you may have about either. Call or click the contact link to set up your next appointment!

Categorised in: Family Dental Care, Gum Health, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Preventive Dentistry