Non-Surgical Deep Cleaning
Dr. Rustin Levy and his team at Advanced Periodontics of Washington are committed to helping you improve your oral health by improving your gum health. Visiting a specialist for the first time can seem intimidating, but we care about you as a person and a patient and want you to have a comfortable, stress-free experience.
Our dental team enjoys working with our patients and helping them relax. Your comfort is always our priority, and when you visit us, you can expect to be treated with warmth, compassion, and respect for your individual needs.
Why Do I Need a Deep Cleaning?
Gum disease is usually the result of inadequate oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss properly, bacteria-filled plaque and tartar builds up on your teeth and causes an infection we call periodontal disease. In its early stages, gum disease is usually easily treatable with a thorough professional cleaning.
Without treatment, gum disease advances, and your gums start to pull away from your teeth, forming spaces called periodontal pockets. At this stage, Dr. Levy would recommend a deep periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing or SRP to halt the spread of the disease and restore your gum health.
Unlike a routine teeth cleaning with your dentist, SRP is a non-surgical procedure that focuses on the area below your gum line and the outer surface of the tooth roots.
What’s Involved with a Deep Cleaning?
Dr. Levy is a periodontist in Washington, DC with specialized training and over 20 years of experience in performing procedures like scaling and root planing. He is thorough, yet gentle, and many of our patients tell us that the process was much easier than they thought it would be.
Your complete comfort is our priority, however, and we want to ensure that you don’t experience any uncomfortable sensations. Before we begin, we will numb your gums using a strong local anesthetic so you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
The first part of a deep cleaning is referred to as scaling. This step involves removing plaque and tartar from your teeth above and below the gum line, being sure to clean to reach all the way down into the bottom of the periodontal pockets.
Next, Dr. Levy begins the root planing portion, where he smooths the surfaces of your tooth roots. Planing eliminates areas where bacteria can become trapped and cause reinfection, while also helping promote the reattachment of gum tissue to your teeth.
Depending on your needs, he may also place antibiotic gel between your teeth or prescribe antibiotic mouth rinses. In some cases, he may prescribe antibiotics in pill form to ensure that all traces of infection-causing bacteria are removed.
Since a deep cleaning is more involved than a regular dental cleaning, the procedure takes about 45 minutes to an hour. We don’t want you to spend too much time in the chair during one sitting, so we divide the treatment into two appointments, doing half your mouth at a time.
After Your Deep Cleaning Procedure
It’s common to experience some discomfort or sensitivity for several days after a deep cleaning, but this is a normal part of the healing process. As always, don’t hesitate to call us if you have any concerns.
We will schedule you for another visit so we can check to see how your gums are healing and check the depth of your periodontal pockets. Scaling and root planing is very effective; however, if the pockets have gotten deeper, Dr. Levy may recommend further treatment.
Do You Need Advanced Gum Disease Treatment?
You don’t need a referral to visit Dr. Levy for periodontal deep cleaning treatment, and he will report his findings back to your dentist. We are pleased to serve patients in Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Arlington, Alexandria, and surrounding communities.
Please call us to schedule an appointment to get started.
