What Causes Gum Disease?
We all have a mouthful of bacteria, mucus, and particles left behind by food and drink. Together these form the sticky substance that we refer to as plaque. This sticks to the teeth and gets in between the crevices as well.
Over time, layers of this plaque build up and harden into tartar. When it gets to this stage, it must be professionally removed.
How Does Deep Cleaning Work?
Your dentist will use a combination of hand-held instruments and ultrasonic instruments to help chip away the tartar. The ultrasonic instrument used vibrations to help loosen the plaque. The tool irrigates the mouth at the same time so that debris is washed away.
For particularly stubborn areas, the handheld-held instruments will be used to chip away at the tartar.
The number of appointments that you need to have done will depend on how much of a problem you have. Your dentist will discuss this with you when they have assessed your teeth.
In some cases, the dentist may prescribe medication to be used after the treatment. Things like a mouth rinse to kill off bacteria, gels with antibiotic properties, enzyme suppressants, etc. These are aimed at halting the spread of gum disease.