Is Deep Teeth Cleaning Painful?

The dentist has recommended a scaling and root planing to treat your gum disease and inflammation, but you are unsure of what that means and if the process will be painful. Essentially, scaling and root planing is a dental deep cleaning. The dentist uses special tools to more thoroughly clean your teeth both above and below the gum line. But if a regular dental cleaning is uncomfortable, how will the deep cleaning feel? Let’s review why the dentist has recommended this procedure and what to expect.

The purpose of deep cleaning is to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from below the gumline, where regular brushing and flossing cannot reach. When plaque is not removed from the surface of teeth regularly, the bacteria causes irritation and inflammation of the gums. Small pockets form where the gums have started to move away from the teeth. Long term gum inflammation can lead to gum recession, bone loss and even tooth loss. Before the gum disease progresses to more serious stages, dentists can perform a more comprehensive cleaning than the one completed during a routine dental appointment. This one procedure can help you return your mouth to health and help you keep your teeth for years to come.

Before starting the procedure, the dentist will apply a local anesthetic to the treatment area. This numbing agent minimizes discomfort by desensitizing the gums and surrounding tissues. During the scaling and root planing, you may feel pressure but not pain. If you have a low tolerance for pain or increased anxiety during medical and dental appointments be sure to discuss this with the dentist prior to your deep cleaning appointment. Additional pain management options with your dentist can help ensure a more comfortable experience.

The deep cleaning process itself is carried out in two steps: scaling and root planing. Scaling involves the removal of hardened tartar and plaque from the tooth surfaces and beneath the gum line. Specialized tools, such as ultrasonic scalers, may be used to break up deposits effectively. Root planing, the second step, focuses on smoothing the tooth roots to discourage any bacterial accumulation and to encourage gum reattachment. The dentist can be thorough While these techniques are thorough, you should be numb to the actual work being done.

After the procedure, you may find that the area where the dentist worked is slightly sensitive and possibly sore. It is very common and it is an indication that your body is healing from the cleaning. You can expect this sensitivity and soreness to be mild and short lasting. Within a day or two, you should feel back to normal. Over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage any post-treatment discomfort. Rinsing with a warm saltwater solution may also soothe the gums and reduce inflammation.

If you have more questions about deep cleaning or how it works as a part of your treatment plan to achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if a dental deep cleaning can help you.

What Happens During Deep Teeth Cleaning?