Deep Teeth Cleaning in Miami, FL

Miami Deep Teeth Cleaning Specialists

One of the best ways to prevent periodontal disease is with biannual dental cleanings. However, if a patient neglects to follow this recommendation, a standard cleaning (i.e., a traditional cleaning) to remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth may be unable to fully address the issues a patient is experiencing: In a case such as this, a Deep Cleaning is required. There are several terms used to refer to the traditional Deep Cleaning procedure, including Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing (SRP), Periodontal Therapy, Gum Scaling and Root Planing or Gum Therapy.

What Warrants the Need for a Deep Cleaning in Miami?

When bacteria are allowed to flourish, a gingival infection (i.e., gum infection) results. This infection is frequently addressed with a Deep Cleaning.

During a Deep Cleaning in Miami, Dr. William P. Lamas attempts to restore the health of the patient’s gingival tissue (i.e., gum tissue). To accomplish this, the calculus (i.e., tartar) that has accumulated beneath the gumline is removed. When a patient has a Deep Cleaning, he or she also receives the Standard Dental Cleaning.

What is the Difference Between a Standard Dental Cleaning and a Deep Cleaning in Miami?

The Deep Cleaning process is similar to the process performed during a traditional biannual cleaning except, rather than just focusing on the sides, front and back surfaces of the teeth that are located above the gumline, the Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing procedure includes removing tartar and debris from between the teeth and the gingival tissue as well as from the pockets that have formed between the gums and roots of the teeth.

What Causes Pocket Formation?

When an individual has gum disease, the space that is between the teeth and the gingival tissue opens, creating what is referred to as a pocket. If the gum disease is allowed to progress, the pocket opens wider and gets deeper, creating a place where plaque and tartar can easily become trapped.

Common signs of gum disease include:

• Loose teeth.
• Tooth sensitivity that seems to be gradually increasing.
• Extremely sensitive teeth.
• Pain while chewing, especially if the food is sticky or hard.
• Persistent bad breath (i.e., halitosis).
• A receding gum line – which causes the teeth to look longer than they used to.

What Determines if a Patient Needs to Have a Deep Cleaning in Miami?

This type of cleaning is necessary when tartar is allowed to build up on the teeth, eventually causing an infection to develop in the gum tissue. As this infection progresses, the gums begin pulling away from the teeth. This pulling away from the neck of the teeth leads to the formation of pockets. These pockets house the bacteria; thus, allowing it to continue accumulating.

As the connective tissue responsible for stabilizing the teeth is compromised, bone loss and tooth loss are likely.

What is Dental Plaque?

Plaque is a clear, sticky biofilm that consists mostly of bacteria. As dental plaque grows, it sticks to the teeth as well as other surfaces within the mouth.

What is Tartar?

Tartar is hardened dental plaque. Since plaque becomes tartar within 48 hours of its formation, good oral hygiene is essential to reduce the likelihood of a gum infection. The dental plaque is clear, but once it hardens into tartar, the color changes to an unsightly yellow or brown.

Removing Plaque at Home

While plaque can be easily removed at home using floss, a toothbrush and other products approved for use by the American Dental Association, once plaque is allowed to become tartar, it must be removed by a dental professional.

Who Should Consider Having a Deep Cleaning in Miami?

Individuals who notice they have signs indicating that their gingival tissue may be infected should schedule an appointment with Dr. William P. Lamas for an exam. During this exam, Dr. Lamas evaluates the patient’s teeth to determine if a Deep Cleaning is warranted.

Signs of infection can include:

• Red, inflamed gingival tissue.
• Gum tenderness.
• Bleeding while brushing or flossing.
• Teeth appearing longer. This can occur as the gums pull away from the necks of the teeth.

The dental exam performed during the initial consultation may also include measuring of the pocket depths, which is usually a painless process, and X-rays.

Individuals who are interested in having a cosmetic dental procedure performed may need to have a Standard cleaning or a Deep Cleaning before moving forward with their aesthetic desires.

Pocket Depth

When the teeth and gums are healthy, the space between the gingival tissue and the neck of the tooth and root is no more than 3 millimeters. However, if pocket measurements are 5 millimeters or more, they are too deep to be treated at home after a Standard Dental Cleaning. Therefore, to address this separation, Dr. Lamas will most likely recommend a Deep Cleaning. Unless the 5-millimeter separation problem is widespread, the Scaling and Planing process may only need to be performed in a few troublesome areas. A Deep Cleaning also promotes the healing process.

Preparing for a Deep Cleaning in Miami

Upon making the appointment for a Deep Cleaning, patients should be prepared to discuss their health history with Dr. William P. Lamas. This history is very important because when the gingival tissue is infected, it can release bacteria into the bloodstream. Patients who have had joint replacements, liver disease, a heart condition or some other illness that has weakened the immune system have an increased risk of developing another infection following the Deep Cleaning process. Therefore, when these medical conditions are present, Dr. Lamas can take precautionary measures to reduce the likelihood of complications. For example, the patient may receive an antibiotic to take before the Deep Cleaning is performed.

Patients who take blood thinners (e.g., Warfarin, Eliquis or Pradaxa, etc.) may need to discontinue taking them for a few days before their Deep Cleaning in Miami.

When blood thinners, or any other medication needs to be discontinued for a few days prior to a procedure, it is vital that patients contact their prescribing physician before they actually stop taking a prescription medication.

These are the only special preparations that the patient needs to make before his or her Deep Cleaning at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami.

Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami

The length of time necessary to perform a Deep Cleaning in Miami depends on the extent of the infection being addressed. There are times when this procedure can be completed in a single, one- or two-hour visit. However, when there are several trouble spots that need to be addressed, or if the infection is extensive, the procedure may require two or three appointments. By splitting up the procedure, one or two quadrants of the mouth can be addressed per appointment.

During the first Deep Cleaning appointment, the standard dental cleaning and gum scaling treatment are usually performed. At the second appointment, the root planing is performed.

A Deep Dental Cleaning in Miami – Procedure Steps and Potential Treatment Variations

1. A local anesthetic is administered before the procedure begins. This anesthetic numbs the mouth, making the treatment more comfortable for the patient.

2. The first part of the Deep Cleaning procedure involves gum scaling. At Dr. William P. Lamas’ Miami office, the gum scaling process can be performed using manual tools, electric instruments, lasers, or a combination of these methods.

3. During the periodontal scaling treatment of the Deep Cleaning procedure at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami, Dr. Lamas uses a variety of dental instruments to remove the buildup of tartar and plaque beneath the patient’s gumline.

4. The root planing treatment is performed to clean and smooth the roots of the teeth, which helps the gingival tissue reattach to the teeth. Once the gum tissue reattaches to the teeth, the existing pockets shrink, thus, reducing the size of the space where tartar and plaque can build up.

Addressing gum disease early on is essential because if the disease is allowed to progress, surgical intervention or more extensive procedures may be necessary to save the existing teeth, or replace the teeth that have been lost.

A Deep Cleaning in Miami – Patient Aftercare

Once the procedure is complete, Dr. William P. Lamas provides patients with home care instructions. The instructions a patient receives is based on his or her unique situation. For example, if the patient smokes, he or she will need to discontinue smoking for some time prior to and following the procedure. Ideally, Dr. Lamas prefers that patients avoid using products that contain nicotine altogether, but especially during the healing process because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. As a vasoconstrictor, nicotine causes narrowing of the blood vessels. This narrowing negatively affects the body’s ability to heal itself, thus, increasing the likelihood of the patient experiencing a complication, including the onset of an infection.

A Follow-Up Visit After a Deep Cleaning at Lamas Dental Specialists, in Miami

A follow-up visit at Dr. Lamas’ Miami office will be scheduled. This appointment is typically four to six weeks after the Deep Cleaning, however, patients who are having this cleaning to prepare for another procedure with Dr. Lamas may be asked to return sooner.

Since the patient has already experienced gum disease, Dr. Lamas may request that he or she has the standard cleaning performed more frequently for the time being (e.g., every three months). These more frequent cleanings help prevent the development of a new infection and promote healing.

During each visit, the patient’s pockets will be measured to determine how well they are healing and how much they have improved.

Recovering After a Deep Cleaning in Miami

Once the local anesthetic used during the procedure wears off, patients should expect to experience some discomfort following their Deep Cleaning. Patients state that their gums feel somewhat tender. In addition, slight bleeding is common while gently brushing the teeth. This side effect will continue for several days following the procedure. Sensitivity to hot and cold is another common side effect, but typically only lasts for two or three days. There are patients who experience some form of sensitivity for several weeks. Patients who notice their sensitivity continuing after the first few days may benefit from the use of a desensitizing toothpaste.

Results

Most patients respond well to Deep Dental Cleanings and those who follow good oral hygiene regimens at home typically see rapid improvement in the way their gums look and feel. Instead of being red and tender, their gums will be pink and firm.

The Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®)

While the traditional Deep Dental Cleaning procedure can successfully address plaque and tartar build up, there are times when Dr. William P. Lamas needs to perform one of the most innovative teeth cleaning procedures available, the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure® or, for short, LANAP®. With this procedure, Dr. Lamas can save teeth that would have been lost if only traditional cleaning treatments were available.

During the LANAP® procedure, Dr. William P. Lamas uses a laser fiber that is extremely small (equaling the width of three human hairs). Although the revolutionary PerioLase® MVP-7 laser can be used for a variety of dental treatments, it was designed specifically for treating gum disease.

During the LANAP® procedure, as the laser passes between the patient’s gums and teeth, he or she experiences no pain. Instead of pain the patient feels a warm sensation in the treatment areas.

With the LANAP® procedure, Dr. William Lamas eradicates diseased tissue by stripping it away. Since the gingival tissue that is infected is darker than the healthy tissue is, the PerioLase® MVP-7 can find the infected tissue and remove it.

After removing the infected tissue, the laser heats the area, causing the formation of a blood clot. Since the area is sealed, the likelihood of reinfection is extremely low.

Issues That Increase an Individual’s Likelihood of Building Up Excess Tartar

Individuals who miss their biannual dental cleanings increase the chance that tartar will accumulate and cause a separation between the teeth and the gingival tissue, allowing bacteria to bypass the neck of the tooth and enter the area beneath the gums. There are certain issues that can increase the likelihood that an individual will build up excess tartar quicker than someone else.

Issues that increase the risk of excess tartar build up:

• Diabetes.
• Smoking.
• Stress.
• Dry mouth.
• Hormonal changes.
• Old dental fillings that need to be replaced because they are breaking down.
• Genetics.

With positive patient results and a caring demeanor, Dr. Lamas’ experience and dedication to his patients is evident.

Dr. William P. Lamas is a periodontist as well as a Certified Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®), Laser Periodontal Therapy Clinician and a Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Lamas uses a variety of Deep Cleaning methods to treat gum disease. To schedule a consultation, please click here. To schedule an appointment by phone, please call 305-440-4114. Lamas Dental Specialists is located at 2645 SW 37th Avenue, Suite #304 in Miami.