Can Teeth Fall Out After Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Periodontal disease is a condition that could be detrimental not only to your oral health, but your overall health. A deep cleaning is typically the first treatment recommended for gum disease and can greatly improve the overall condition of your mouth. This type of dental cleaning is also referred to as scaling and root planing and is performed under local anesthetic, allowing the hygienist to clean well below the gum line while keeping the patient comfortable.

A deep cleaning is a non-surgical procedure to remove tartar and bacteria buildup from within the gum pockets to prevent tooth loss and eradicate gum disease.

Can teeth fall out after deep teeth cleaning?

While the soft tissues that hold your teeth in place will be positively affected, it is uncommon for a tooth to fall out after a deep cleaning. When tartar and bacteria buildup in the gum pockets, the gum tissue will begin to pull away from the tooth surface. When all of that is removed during a deep cleaning, your teeth may feel slightly mobile immediately following treatment. But as your gum tissue heals closer to the tooth, it will be attached to the teeth and everything will be more stable.

What is the procedure for a deep cleaning?

We have small pockets between the gum tissue and each tooth which should measure a depth between zero and 3 millimeters. When active gum disease develops, the collection of tartar and bacteria sitting in the gum pockets causes gum recession and pocket measurements can expand. Patients with pocket measurements higher than 4 or 5 millimeters may be a good candidate for a deep cleaning.

Scaling and root planing typically takes two appointments to complete, when the whole mouth is being treated. This is because an anesthetic is administered and it is not ideal for your entire mouth to be numb all at once so one side is done at each appointment. These appointments should be as close together as possible to avoid the untreated side reinfecting the first side.

Once the anesthetic is administered and you are completely numb, your hygienist will use a combination of manual and ultrasonic instruments to scale tartar and bacteria from deep within the gum pockets. Once both sides have been cleaned, you may have a final follow up appointment 4 to 6 weeks later at which point your dentist will reevaluate your teeth and gums. If necessary, they will refer you to a periodontist for specialized treatment.

It is normal to experience a little soreness for a couple of days immediately following but that will subside on its own.

What if I do lose a tooth?

In the event that you do suffer tooth loss, your dentist will be able to restore the area with a dental bridge or dental implant. You may need a bone graft before you have an implant placed, a tooth will not come out just from a deep cleaning, there will be pre-existing bone loss associated with that as well. If you have a history of periodontal issues, a deep cleaning can be a good way to get your oral health back on track and help you keep your natural teeth as long as possible.

Gums Healing After Deep Teeth Cleaning

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