Periodontal Cleaning – San Antonio, TX

Are your gums red and swollen? Do they bleed when you brush your teeth? You’re experiencing symptoms of gum disease. You’re not alone. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 50% of adults have a form of it. The first step to stopping the harmful bacteria is a periodontal cleaning. This removes tartar buildup to restore your oral health. At Laith Family Dentistry, we can save your smile with a deep teeth cleaning in San Antonio.

What is a Periodontal Cleaning?

A periodontal cleaning is more than what you’d expect at your semi-annual appointment. A routine cleaning only removes buildup above the gum line, but a deep cleaning removes any accumulations that are below it.

A deep cleaning actually involves two separate treatments, called scaling and root planing. They use special dental tools to clean the gingival pockets where your toothbrush and floss cannot reach. Removing the buildup stops the spread of the infection while also allowing your gum tissue to reattach to your teeth.

A deep cleaning prevents the infection from progressing to save your smile. A topical anesthetic may be applied to your tissue before starting the treatment to help minimize any discomfort. A special dental tool is used to remove tartar and bacteria accumulations below the gum line. This is the scaling portion of the treatment. After it’s complete, you’ll undergo root planing. This involves smoothing the root surfaces of your teeth to discourage future buildup. Your gum tissue will reattach to your teeth to seal out plaque and tartar.

Why Do I Need a Deep Cleaning?

Gum disease is preventable, but it is very common. Most often, it’s the result of improper oral hygiene habits that cause an accumulation of plaque. If plaque isn’t removed regularly, it hardens and turns to tartar, which provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This irritates and infects your gum tissue, causing swelling, redness, and bleeding. If it’s not treated right away, pockets form in the gum tissue near the roots of the teeth. This traps additional tartar and bacteria, which can destroy the supporting structures of your teeth.

Not everyone needs a deep cleaning. The treatment is only recommended for patients who have gum disease. It can also be used for regular maintenance to prevent the infection from reoccurring. The nonsurgical procedure stops the spread of the bacteria to prevent it from causing irreversible damage to the supporting structures of your teeth that can lead to tooth loss. Not to mention, it can prevent the bacteria from entering your bloodstream to protect your general health.

After your initial cleaning, we may recommend you have it repeated every 3 months to keep the infection at bay. We’ll create the customized treatment plan you need to save your smile from gum disease.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you’re experiencing symptoms of gum disease, don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Laith Family Dentistry today to schedule your consultation for a periodontal cleaning. We’ll remove the buildup to restore a healthy, beautiful smile.