Re: Tartar problems after deep cleaning?

From: Bill Combs (dentaldoc_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 11/13/04 

Date: 13 Nov 2004 14:04:13 -0800

danhua@gmail.com (fridexter) wrote in message news:<c3b431f4.0411130333.7baba1fc@posting.google.com>...

> dentaldoc@hotmail.com (Bill Combs) wrote in message news:<42da265d.0411101032.71c6a6f2@posting.google.com>...
> > Before addressing the rest of your message, I need to ask what you
> > mean by "deep cleaning." That is not a term used among dentists. Is it
> > possible that you are referring to a "scaling and root planing"
> > procedure?
> >
> > After all, if one cleaning is a "deep" cleaning, does that mean that
> > all other cleanings are "shallow?" Who would want a shallow cleaning?
> >
> > Please let me know.
> >
> > Regards,
> > dentaldoc
> >
> >
>
> Yeah, I'm talking about "scaling and root planning." They basically
> numbed my whole mouth and spent a good amount of time going beneath my
> gums cleaning things out. They also sprayed this green bitter solution
> into my gums/teeth after it was all done. After that, they told me to
> rinse my mouth out with a strong fluoride solution.
>
> Hope to hear your response soon, thanks!

OK, thanks for your reply!
(Here's the original message:)
> A few weeks after I had deep cleaning from my dentist, which I might
> add was quite painful but necessary, I noticed that I had a lot more
> tartar than ever before. Little black/brown specs could be seen near
> the gumline, while others were more visible.
>
> When I went back to the dentist 2 weeks after my deep cleaning about
> my concerns, he told me that it was natural. Since my gums were now
> clean, they shrunk back into normal size instead of being puffy. And
> as a result, it would reveal the tartar that was already there. He
> removed a few that I showed him through a hand mirror and said that
> the next general cleaning would be used to clean up the rest.

That's why I wanted to clarify what was meant by "deep cleaning."
Dentists don't use that term because it is imprecise. It could
conceivably mean anything from gross debridement to fine scaling to
SRP (scaling and root planing).

(By the way, it's important to note that the term is root "planing,"
not root "planning." Planning means something else entirely.)

It is common and normal for intial cleanings, or gross debridements as
well, to result in gum shrinkage back to a more normal firmness,
revealing some hidden calculus. In extreme cases, there may have been
so much calculus present subgingivally before a root planing, that
several spots of calculus may still remain. In such cases it is
necessary to remove all of the remaining calculus, before the
anticipated helpful effects of the root planing can be expected to
accrue.

In other words, post-treatment healing requires the absence of
calculus.

The idea of a root planing is to remove the deeper calculus that can't
be removed by an ordinary "cleaning."

If any calculus remains, it needs to be removed. In some cases
repeated scalings are necessary. If scalings are not sufficient, then
periodontal flap surgery allows better access to the hidden deposits
on root surfaces. One way or another, the calculus needs to be
removed.

In many cases it is common for the root planing to be followed by
periodontal surgery, depending on the perio pocket depths and
architecture. Each case will vary.

>
> First off, I'm wondering if my dentist is correct.

Can't tell without an exam.

> And if so, should I
> go ahead and schedule a general cleaning now to remove more tartar
> that has appeared since then. In additon to this, is there anything I
> should be worried about? Also, why is tartar now a bigger problem than
> ever before? (I spotted a 2 new ones in the past few weeks also.)

If calculus is present, it needs to be removed.

> BTW - I've been flossing daily, brushing twice, and using listerine
> two times daily since my deep cleaning. My gums definitely do look
> better, but the tartar is really bothering me.

The method of brushing is probably even more important than the
frequency. Check with your dentist or your hygienist to review the
modern, improved methods of brushing and flossing.

>
> If anyone has any insights, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in
> advance!

Best regards,
-dentaldoc

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: the limits of calculus
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  • Re: the limits of calculus
    ... the calculus is beginning to build up on the lower front teeth. ... but you should demonstrate your brushing and flossing technique to ... He actually adjusted my technique at the last cleaning. ...
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  • Root Planing and Scaling
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