Skip to content Scaling and root planing to treat gum disease
A deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, removes plaque and hardened tartar from below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots so your gums can heal and reattach. It is the standard first treatment for early to moderate gum disease. At Sigma Dental Clinic on W Foster Ave in Chicago, the area is numbed with local anesthesia so you stay comfortable.
You may need a deep cleaning if your gums bleed when you brush, look red or swollen, have pulled back from your teeth, or if your gum pockets measure deeper than normal at your checkup. Treating it early helps prevent bone loss, loose teeth, and bad breath. Learn more about our gum disease therapy. We accept most PPO plans and Medicaid. Call (773) 506-2033 to book a visit.
Deep cleaning helps eliminate harmful bacteria that cause gum infection and inflammation, preventing the condition from worsening.
If your gums are swollen or bleeding, deep cleaning can significantly reduce these symptoms and improve gum health.
By addressing the root causes of gum disease, deep cleaning helps to protect your teeth and prevent future tooth loss.
Regular deep cleaning helps keep your gums and teeth in optimal condition, maintaining your oral health for years to come.
A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is a treatment for gum disease. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and from pockets below the gumline. Root planing smooths the roots of the teeth so bacteria have a harder time sticking and the gums can heal and tighten around the teeth.
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar above and just at the gumline and is meant to keep healthy gums healthy. A deep cleaning goes below the gumline into the pockets that form with gum disease, and it is used to treat infection rather than prevent it.
Common signs include gums that bleed when you brush or floss, red or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, gums pulling away from the teeth, or teeth that feel loose. At your exam, gum pocket measurements of 4 millimeters or more and bone loss on X-rays usually mean a deep cleaning is needed.
Most patients are comfortable during a deep cleaning because the area is numbed with local anesthesia. Afterward, your gums may feel tender and your teeth may be sensitive to hot and cold for a few days. A soft toothbrush, warm salt-water rinses, and over-the-counter pain relievers usually help.
A deep cleaning is often done in two visits, treating one side of the mouth at a time, with each visit taking about an hour. A follow-up visit a few weeks later checks how your gums are healing. After that, cleanings every three to four months help keep gum disease under control.
Many dental insurance plans cover part of a deep cleaning when it is needed to treat gum disease. Sigma Dental Clinic accepts most PPO plans and Medicaid, and our team can check your benefits before treatment. Monthly payment and insurance options are also available.
