The general guideline is to have your teeth cleaned twice a year (every 6 months). However, if you have a history of gum disease, smoke, have braces, or build up calculus (tartar) quickly, your dentist may recommend every 3 to 4 months.

Gingivitis is reversible tenderness, redness, and/or swelling in the gums that are not associated with bone loss or gum recession. A professional dental cleaning and routine homecare can bring your gums back to normal health.

Periodontal disease is an irreversible disease of the supporting gums and bone of your teeth. There is typically recession of the gums, bleeding in the gums, swelling, and bone loss around the tooth that eventually causes the teeth to destabilize.

A standard cleaning (prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar above the gumline for healthy gums.

A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is needed if you have bone loss or calculus below the gumline from periodontal disease.

A standard prophylactic cleaning typically takes between 40 minutes to an hour.

A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is generally broken up into two different appointments. Each appointment is about 1.5 hours long and only one side of the mouth is cleaned at a time.

A periodontal maintenance cleaning is a periodontal cleaning performed every 3 to 4 months after a deep cleaning is completed. This is to maintain the health of your gum tissue after scaling and root planing to ensure your periodontal health remains stable.

Standard cleanings are generally painless, though inflamed gums or heavy build up can cause temporary tenderness and sensitivity. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers beforehand if you are sensitive or ask for a topical numbing gel.

For scaling and root planing, local anesthetic is used to numb your mouth to ensure you are comfortable while we clean your teeth.