Periodontal Cleanings in Swanton, OH
Your dental health is more important than you might think. It’s the window to your overall health, and because of that, you need to take good care of your oral health. Part of keeping your dental hygiene in a tip-top shape is getting regular dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar, two of the most common causes of gum disease. If left on your teeth, plaque and tartar can lead to periodontal disease, which causes bone loss and sometimes even tooth loss. Luckily, gum disease is treatable with deep dental cleanings. Keep reading to learn more about gum disease and the treatments available at Believe Dental Care of Swanton.
What is Gum Disease? (Periodontitis)
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It’s typically caused by inadequate brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, to build upon the teeth and harden.
Plaque can harden and form a substance called tartar if it’s not removed. Tartar sticks much more firmly to teeth than plaque and can usually only be removed by a dental hygienist. The harmful bacteria in plaque and tartar start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place.
As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets deepen, and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. When this happens, teeth are no longer anchored in place, they become loose, and tooth loss occurs.
How Do You Know if You Have Gum Disease?
In the early stages of gum disease, your gums recede or pull away, and you’ll likely experience bleeding during brushing and flossing as well, and possibly some bone loss. As the disease progresses, your teeth will begin to lose bone support and become loose.
In advanced gum disease, the connective tissue that holds your teeth in place begins to deteriorate. If you have advanced periodontitis, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Loose teeth
- Painful chewing
- Sensitive teeth
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away
- Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
- Change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite or the fit of partial dentures
Periodontal Cleanings
Unlike a regular, preventative cleaning, a periodontal cleaning is a treatment prescribed by your general dentist to combat periodontal disease. These cleanings are usually recommended every three to four months to maintain gum health and eradicate the dangerous bacterial growth of the periodontal disease. It is a deeper cleaning that goes under your gums to prevent or treat gum disease and involves both scaling and root planing, meaning tartar must be removed from deep between the teeth and gums.
What Happens During a Periodontal Cleaning?
During a periodontal cleaning appointment, the hygienist will remove plaque and tartar build-up from in between your teeth and gums down the entire length of each tooth, stopping where the gum, root, and bone meet using special instruments. Root planing removes bacteria and smooths uneven areas near the tooth’s roots. We will also carefully monitor the depth of each pocket in your gums and irrigate these pockets with antiseptic medications if inflammation or infection is present.
How Long Does a Deep Dental Cleaning Take?
A periodontal dental cleaning usually takes between 1 to 2 hours.
Deep Teeth Cleaning Cost
A deep dental cleaning may vary in cost depending on how much the periodontal disease has progressed. Dental insurance typically covers all or a portion of this cost.
Schedule Your Deep Dental Cleaning Appointment Today!
A deep dental cleaning can help stop and prevent periodontal disease from progressing or forming again. At Believe Dental Care of Swanton, we have some of the most advanced technology and highly experienced dental hygienists. You’ll always see the same hygienist at every appointment. If you are concerned about periodontal disease or already know you need a periodontal cleaning, please contact us today to schedule an appointment.