Introduction
Are you going for a teeth cleaning session in Houston but unsure about the time it’ll take? This blog will address how long a teeth cleaning session should last and shed some light on its pros and cons.
Dental cleanings are important to help maintain your dental health. It can influence your overall health, too. Dentists typically recommend teeth cleaning sessions every six months. Why? Because these sessions will help reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
But due to our busy lifestyle, we often worry that dental cleanings might take too long. Some people even skip their teeth cleaning sessions. You might save some time and do other stuff in the short term. But its long-term effects on your oral health could be detrimental. So, skipping a deep cleaning session is not a good idea, irrespective of its time.
This takes us to the question: How long should a teeth cleaning session last?
Dental cleanings may not take as long as one might think.
How Long Does a Teeth Cleaning Session Take?
The quick answer is half an hour to an hour. But several factors influence the cleaning time, including:
- Patient’s dental health
- The condition of their teeth
- The experience of their dental team
Your dental health is a crucial factor when determining your teeth cleaning duration. The session will be short if your gums and teeth are healthy and clear of tartar or gum disease. However, patients with compromised dental health may have a longer appointment as it’s time-consuming to remove persistent tartar or progress gum disease.
Next, the condition of your teeth also affects the amount of time needed for in-office cleaning. Broken or decayed teeth are more challenging to clean than healthy ones. And so, they require more time for cleaning.
Another factor that plays a role in your cleaning session’s duration is the experience of your dental team. The more experience they have, the less time it’ll take for them to complete the job.
Pros and Cons of Deep Cleaning Sessions
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of deep cleaning sessions:
Deep Cleaning Pros:
Deep cleaning plays a vital role in maintaining your dental health. It becomes more useful when you’ve developed gum disease, causing your gums to pull away from your teeth. Gum disease can create a space between teeth more than 5 mm. If the condition worsens, the space between your teeth and gums will continue to widen, weakening the supporting bones of your teeth and leading to tooth loss or loose teeth.
Here are some of the benefits you will enjoy when your dentist recommends the procedure:
- Clean your teeth and gum line
- Stop gum disease progression
- Treat current infection
- Promote healing
- Protect your tooth roots
- Reduce bad breath due to gum disease
Deep Cleaning Cons:
Deep cleaning is essential to treat dental issues and prevent tartar buildup and gum disease progression. However, the procedure has its risks, including:
- Nerve damage
- Gum recession
- No guarantee of gum reattachment to your teeth
- Infection occurs when the immune system is compromised
- Pain and teeth sensitivity
The most common side effect of deep cleaning is pain sensation and sensitivity. But that’s only minimal and only lasts for 5-7 days.
Is deep cleaning painful?
Deep cleaning involves scaling and root planing, which can cause some discomfort. Your dentist will give you a local anesthetic or a topical cream to numb the area. You can also easily manage the mild discomfort by taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
You can expect tooth sensitivity, swelling, and minor bleeding after the treatment.
How to reduce tooth sensitivity after the procedure
You can reduce tooth sensitivity by consuming soft foods, such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, or applesauce. Consume this diet for the first few days to help reduce sensitivity. And make sure to avoid consuming hot or cold foods and beverages.
If you experience swelling following the procedure, try taking OTC pain medications, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, to reduce it. It will be best if you do lukewarm salt water rinses.
Don’t forget to brush and floss daily to promote healing and reduce gum swelling. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.
Conclusion
Deep cleaning is crucial to help keep up with your oral hygiene and health. It promotes the healing of gum disease, prevents tartar buildup, and gets rid of bad breath. However, the treatment can cause mild pain and sensitivity, which you can easily manage by following your dentist’s instructions. The treatment time depends on various factors. It can take longer for patients with compromised dental health. But if your oral health is good, it will be over between 30 minutes and 60 minutes. If you’re interested in undergoing deep teeth cleaning in Houston, contact https://www.smileuniquedentistry.com/ . Our team is ready to provide you with the best teeth cleaning services.
