"Deep Cleaning" Dental ?

[CindyKansas]

I have a quick question that I know someone on these board will be able to help me with. I took DD who is 15 to the dentist today for her annual dental checkup. We do this every year before school starts. This year we went to the same clinic, but we now have a new dentist. Anyway, after DD had her teeth cleaned the dentist came in and looked at her teeth and told me that she needed to have them "Deep Cleaned". Okay, this child has never had a cavity in her life, never had any dental problems that I'm aware of, doesn't even need braces.

So the question is: Have any of you had this done, does it hurt, what should I expect afterwards, is this just a scam to get into my pocketbook, etc....

 

[Loubon]

Deep cleaning gets below the gum line to prevent (or treat) peridontal disease. It really has nothing to do with cavities per se. The actual cleaning doesn't really hurt (a little more scraping) but the gums may be a little tender afterwards.

 

[tiggersmom2]

First off, I am a Dental Hygienist. Deep cleanings (also known as Gross Debridements) are necessary when a person is not taking care of their teeth like they should. It does not matter if you have never had a cavity - if you are not brushing and flossing like you should, you may require a deep cleaning. Deep Cleanings are expensive and painful (unless local anesthesia is administered). The hygienist must go UNDER the gum and clean all the calculus out sub and supra. Afterwards your child may be in pain - but ibuprofen should relieve it.

If you are sure that your DD does a good job, just take her to another clinic for a second opinion. If she has been having regular cleanings and doing well at home she shouldn't need a deep cleaning, but I can't see in her mouth so I don't know - good luck to you.

 

[mtblujeans]

I had a dentist insist upon this procedure to the point that she "bumped" me as a client because I refused. They said they were going to numb my mouth up deeply and dig way down into the gums around every tooth. I was going to be in a "great deal of pain", they were going to call and check on me for a couple of days afterward, and it was VERY expensive. They warned me that if I began heavy bleeding I was to let them know right away! I said forget it. The dentist and I got into it, and she cancelled my next appointment on me because I refused to consider it. She said I did not "value my dental health" by refusing the procedure. I am wondering if "new" dentists are learning this procedure in schools and offering it to their patients. I guess I don't understand the procedure. Won't they be ripping away the tissues that actually holds the tooth into the socket??

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

It sounds to me like something a periodontist should be doing. However, I've always had a dentist who refers out for anything that is better done by someone with a specific expertise.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

How is a deep cleaning different than a regular cleaning???



I am pretty bloody after a regular cleaning.

 

[hulabird]

I thought deep cleaning was actually root planing and scaling? That doesn't hurt at all and really gets into the gum pockets. My mom had that and she had no pain from any of it and it cleared up the gingivitis she had.

 

[Abracadabra]

I've had a deep cleaning done by a regular dentist. They used novacaine and did it by sections of my mouth. I did not have any pain during the procedure, but afterwards my mouth was somewhat sore for a couple of days. Ibuprofen took care of that pain.

I've also had periodontal cleanings... those are where they open the gum and clean super deep pockets. Again locals are given, but afterwards, this hurts for several days. This requires stitches around the area cleaned while a deep cleaning does not open the gum and doesn't require stitches.

 

[Michie]

I had a deep cleaning last summer and I will never have one again. Afterwards my gums were very sore and hurt for about 2 weeks. I had all my gums done at once, I was in the dentist office for about 4 hours. My dentist charged me around $700. I do think it is a good idea to get a second opinion.

 

[skiwee1]

I get this done about once every 4 years. It is NOT fun! They do one quadrant at a time, which is one fourth. You go 4 times within a month to get the entire mouth done. Each time I've had it done it took 4 needles to numb one quadrant. I am going to get it done again next week and I DREAD it. I might just pop some of my pills left over from my fear of flying and let someone drive me there! LOL! I am in pain afterwards as they come in an obliterate your gums. It isn't just "a little scraping"! I have to get this done because I am 42 years old and still have my baby teeth in the back. This is the only way I have been able to hang on to them. Not getting adult teeth in the back runs in my family unfortunately.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by Rutt and Tuke
It sounds to me like something a periodontist should be doing. However, I've always had a dentist who refers out for anything that is better done by someone with a specific expertise.

This is one of the MAIN procedures us Dental Hygienist are taught in school. Even if a general dentist refers you to a Periodontist for this - the Periodontist will have HIS hygienist do it to you!


To answer The Mystery Machines question - a deep cleaning is different from a regular cleaning in that, in a regular cleaning we are just scaling the calculus and plaque from the tooth surface, we are also going VERY lightly below the tooth surface (as far as a healthy sulcus will allow) and cleaning the plaque from there. When a patient requires a deep cleaning, a periodontal pocket has usually formed around the tooth (filled with calculus, plaque and bacteria). If this pocket is not cleaned out, it could lead to periodontal disease and the patient could lose the tooth. We have to use an instrument known as a cavitron to debride all the heavy calculus out of the area, we then use our hand instruments to scrape the root and tooth surface (so yes, this is actually root planning and curretage). The main difference is we have to really go down deep into the gums to get this out.

This does not damage the tissue around the tooth - without this procedure the patient will certainly lose the tooth.

 

[skiwee1]

Tiggersmom2, no hygienists do deep cleaning around here. Every dentist I have ever been to will not allow their hygienist to take up the time to do this. I go to a periodontist that does this himself. I have never had a hygienist to this. If I am paying for a periodontist then you better believe he is the one going to do the procedure.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by skiwee1
Tiggersmom2, no hygienists do deep cleaning around here. Every dentist I have ever been to will not allow their hygienist to take up the time to do this. I go to a periodontist that does this himself. I have never had a hygienist to this. If I am paying for a periodontist then you better believe he is the one going to do the procedure.

There is no WAY I believe this!!!!! I have worked in 3 states and ALL the Periodontist have their hygienist do this. You may be confused about WHAT they are doing to you because there is no way in HECK you should be getting a deep cleaning EVERY 4 years - unless you just don't brush your teeth.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by tiggersmom2
There is no WAY I believe this!!!!! I have worked in 3 states and ALL the Periodontist have their hygienist do this.

I have had this done a couple of times. They have done one side at a time when I had this procedure. I have always had novacaine (or whatever they use to numb the gums) and I have always had a Dentist do it. The shots hurt more than anything else, although my gums usually are a little sore for a day or less.

 

[KathyTX]

Around here, the dental hygienists perform these procedures.

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by skiwee1
They do one quadrant at a time, which is one fourth. You go 4 times within a month to get the entire mouth done.

Thanks for the math lesson.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by sgtdisney
I have had this done a couple of times. They have done one side at a time when I had this procedure. I have always had novacaine (or whatever they use to numb the gums) and I have always had a Dentist do it. The shots hurt more than anything else, although my gums usually are a little sore for a day or less.

It is very rare that a Dentist or Periodontist does deep cleaning. I have many dental friends throughout the US (thanks to the ADA and ADHA)and most dentist have their hygienist do these procedures.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by skiwee1
. Every dentist I have ever been to will not allow their hygienist to take up the time to do this.

I certainly don't understand this statement, a regular cleaning is only 100 - 200 dollars at most for the dentist. One quad of deep cleaning is atleast 300 dollars here, so the dentist or periodontist will be making MORE money! That is why they have us do it!!

 

[nuke]

I had it done about 4 years ago. My gums would bleed everytime I brushed or flossed and my pockets were very deep.
I had the top teeth done and then 2 weeks later the bottom teeth. The only pain I experienced was from the novacaine (or whatever they use) shot.

My gums are still in great shape. The rarely bleed and my pockets are all back to 1's and 2's.

Oh and the hygeinest did the procedure.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by tiggersmom2
There is no WAY I believe this!!!!! I have worked in 3 states and ALL the Periodontist have their hygienist do this. You may be confused about WHAT they are doing to you because there is no way in HECK you should be getting a deep cleaning EVERY 4 years - unless you just don't brush your teeth.

I really don't care WHAT you believe. I know that hygeniests do not do it in any of the offices I have been too. Not ever. I always have a periodontist do this and never a hygienist. I am not confused. I know what I get done. I do get a deep cleaning every 4 years or so because of my family history. I believe doing so has allowed me to keep my baby teeth for 42 years!