Gum disease affects around 42.2% of United States adults over 30, with 7.8% of people in this group suffering from severe periodontitis.1 What many people don’t realize is that gum disease increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other adverse health outcomes. The good news is that with proper treatment, you can heal gum disease and prevent it from reoccurring. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect during a periodontal cleaning appointment.
Do I Need to Set Up a Periodontal Cleaning Appointment?
If your dentist diagnoses you with gum disease at your regular dental appointment, you will then schedule a consultation with a periodontist. Your appointment will include a thorough evaluation as well as periodontal cleaning.
Once you begin seeing a periodontist, you will continue seeing your periodontist regularly – usually every 3 months. Some patients will see their periodontist more often for appointments, especially at the beginning of periodontal treatment.
Some of the factors that make individuals most at risk for developing periodontal disease include: 2
- Poor oral hygiene
- Smoking and/or other tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Other health conditions that impact the immune system
What Happens During A Periodontal Cleaning Appointment?
After a gum disease diagnosis, it is vital to seek the care of a periodontist. A periodontist has additional education, training, and specialization in the treatment of gum disease. In addition to treating gum disease, periodontists perform other services and procedures, including:
Knowing what to expect during a periodontal cleaning can help ease your nerves before your first periodontal appointment. Let’s dive into the steps that occur during periodontal hygiene and teeth cleaning appointments:
#1: Evaluation
In addition to the hygiene component of your appointment, your periodontist will also examine inside and outside your mouth to evaluate for non-periodontal diseases or conditions. They will also take measurements of pocket depth, gum recession and assess levels of plaque and gingivitis.
#2: Administering Of Local Anesthetic
During root planing and scaling, your periodontist may start with a local anesthetic to numb the mouth and make the cleaning process as comfortable as possible.
#3: Scaling
Scaling is a process of scraping away the plaque, tartar buildup, and stains on the tooth, between the teeth, and under the gumline. This cleans away bacteria and is often performed with the help of either an ultrasonic scaling device or manual dental tools.
#4: Root Planing
After scaling, root planing is used to smooth out the tooth’s rough root surface to help the gums reattach more firmly onto the teeth. This helps in preventing more bacteria from accumulating under the gums.
What Care Is Recommended After The Appointment?
After the initial cleaning appointment occurs, it is recommended to follow all of the aftercare instructions given by your periodontist. This might include avoiding hard or hot and cold foods, avoiding smoking, and taking an antibiotic to prevent infection.
Additionally, patients return to the office for a follow-up appointment to check the healing process and schedule future maintenance cleaning appointments.
Improve Gum Health With Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester
At Dental Implants and Periodontal Health of Rochester, we understand that scheduling your first periodontal cleaning can a bit scary. However, with the support and care from our team of periodontists, we guarantee that you’ll leave our office feeling more comfortable and confident with the state of your oral health.
If you’re ready to improve your gum health today, contact us online or give us a call at 585-685-2005.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/periodontal-disease/adults
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473
