Lakefront Family Dentistry Blog

Deep Cleaning

What is a Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Lakefront Family Dentistry’s registered dental hygienists are highly skilled and perform deep teeth cleanings with the patient’s comfort in mind.

A deep teeth cleaning is a simple, non-surgical procedure that is usually performed without anesthesia. Deep cleaning removes harmful bacteria and hardened tartar deposits called calculus that build up on teeth below the gum line. These deposits release toxins that cause gum disease, which is also known as periodontitis.

periodontal disease symptoms and treatment dentist
Periodontal Disease Treatment Before and After Images.

Deep teeth cleaning may be necessary when there is a larger number of bacteria and tartar buildup along and below the gumline. When “pockets” form in the gums due to gum disease, bacteria and tartar fill these pockets. If the tartar is not removed, it increases the chances of several oral health issues, such as tooth loss and advanced periodontal disease.

This build-up of calculus needs to be removed by deep teeth cleaning since the calculus builds up in areas that cannot be taken care of by brushing, flossing, or even regular dental cleaning. Over time, as gum disease progresses, this can lead to inflammation, receding gums, bleeding, and even receding bone tissue.

Gum Disease and the Heart

According to the Mayo Clinic, gum disease is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. The same bacteria that infect the gums causing gingivitis and periodontitis may travel to blood vessels in other places within the body. This may lead to blood vessel inflammation and damage. Small blood clots, a stroke, or a heart attack may follow.

People with gum disease have 2-to-3-times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events. A deep teeth cleaning, in addition to maintaining great regular dental hygiene, is one way of halting the progression of gum disease. Lakefront Family Dentistry is the most-referred Lake Elsinore dentist with 6 highly qualified registered dental hygienists.

Plaque and Bacteria Enter the Bloodstream from Gum Disease and Periodontitis, Possibly Causing a Heart Attack or Stroke. Make Sure and Get Your Professional, Biannual Teeth Cleaning.
Plaque and Bacteria Enter the Bloodstream from Gum Disease and Periodontitis, Possibly Causing a Heart Attack or Stroke. Make Sure and Get Your Professional, Biannual Teeth Cleaning.

How is a Deep Teeth Cleaning Performed?

A deep teeth cleaning is usually performed with a hand scaler and an ultrasonic cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner uses high-frequency vibrations to separate the calculus from the tooth. Typically the procedure is painless; however, in advanced stages of gum disease, it may be necessary to anesthetize the area for total comfort.

In some cases, this deep teeth cleaning procedure may be so extensive that it must be done in stages. More than one appointment may be required to assure greater comfort levels for the patient. This reduces the time for each appointment and allows for adequate healing time.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

A deep teeth cleaning is also known as scaling and root planing. The difference between root planing and scaling is simple. Scaling is the removal of tartar and bacteria from teeth above the gumline, whereas root planing is the process of removing deposits from root surfaces below the gumline.

By removing the deposits and bacteria, in most cases, a deep teeth cleaning will be able to halt the spread of periodontitis. This process creates a clean environment that allows gums to heal.

What is a Full Mouth Debridement?

A full mouth debridement is like a deep teeth cleaning, but it is more in-depth. A full mouth debridement goes beyond just root surfaces. It includes the pocket space of the gums, the pocket wall, and underlying tissues. Our experienced registered dental hygienists also consider the immune response of the patient.

The goal of full mouth debridement therapy is to control the bacterial infection instead of just removing deposits from the surfaces of the roots. Debridement is the control of a bacterial infection to stop disease progression and achieve an outcome of tissue health.

Full Mouth Debridement vs. Regular Teeth Cleaning

Simply put, a full mouth debridement is a much deeper and in-depth cleaning of the teeth than a regular dental cleaning. A regular teeth cleaning at the dentist focuses on plaque and tartar removal on the surfaces of teeth above the gumline.

This is accomplished by Lakefront Family Dentistry’s experienced registered dental hygienists. A regular professional teeth cleaning begins with scaling, which is the removal of tartar from the surface of the teeth with a hand scaling tool.

Then, a gentle paste is applied to the surfaces of the teeth to polish them clean of plaque and tartar. Finally, the hygienist flosses teeth to remove any remaining plaque or debris from between the teeth.

Since bacteria can be found in plaque, the sticky coating that forms on teeth, a biannual regular dental cleaning removes large amounts of these organisms as well. If plaque is not removed quickly enough, it can harden into tartar, which is not as easy to remove as plaque.

A full mouth debridement is a dental therapy used to halt the progression of gum disease by removing calculus deposits and bacteria from deep below the gum line—on the surface of the tooth roots and surrounding gum tissues. This dental therapy also focuses on the pocket space within the gum line and all underlying tissues with halting the progression of gum disease as the desired outcome.

What are CEREC doctors?

CEREC is an acronym that stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It is a practice of using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to quickly create accurate impressions and fillings.

Instead of creating a mold of your mouth, a CEREC machine creates an accurate 3D scan, which the Dr. Mark Phillipe, DDS, can use to reduce the time it takes to create inlays, crowns, and veneers in the office.

Porcelain Crowns

One of the most common CEREC treatments is same-day crowns. Normally, getting a dental crown has been at least a 2-day process for patients. But with modern CEREC technology, it can be offered as a same-day service at Lakefront family dentistry.

Most people just search “CEREC dentist near me” on Google when looking for a great cosmetic dentist like Lakefront Family Dentistry. If you are interested in viewing our ratings, try Google dentist reviews.

before new veneers and crowns patient photo
Before Picture of Patient Prior to Receiving 10 Porcelain Veneers and Crowns.
After Picture of Patient Who Received 10 Gorgeous CEREC Porcelain Veneers and Crowns at Lakefront Family Dentistry in Lake Elsinore, CA.
After Picture of Patient Who Received 10 Gorgeous CEREC Porcelain Veneers and Crowns at Lakefront Family Dentistry in Lake Elsinore, CA.
Porcelain Veneers

Another service offered at Lakefront Family Dentistry aided by CEREC technology is porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers can be used to fix teeth that have several cosmetic issues.

  • Irregularly shaped
  • Chipped or broken
  • Discolored and/or stained
  • Crooked or contain large gaps

Using the CEREC Primescan Intraoral Scanners and milling machines onsite, Dr. Mark Phillipe, DDS, uses a durable porcelain material to create perfect dental veneers that match your surrounding tooth color.

Many patients who come to Lakefront Family Dentistry in Lake Elsinore review dentists on Yelp first to see what current patients are saying about this beautiful private practice that has two dental therapy dogs.

Give Us a Call During Business Hours (951) 244-9495 or Schedule a Dental Appointment through Our Website Anytime.