Have you ever wondered what the difference is between routine and deep dental cleanings? A deep cleaning is much more complex than you may think. In this article, our team at Bow Valley Dental takes you through the key differences between a routine dental cleaning and a deep dental cleaning to help you determine which type of cleaning you may benefit from.

Routine Cleanings Vs. Deep Cleanings

A routine dental cleaning is a procedure that happens when you visit your dentist in Downtown Calgary bi-annually. During this procedure, your dental technician will remove debris from the surface of your teeth before polishing and flossing them. Your dentist will likely also take x-rays and perform a brief examination of your mouth to ensure that you are in good shape.

Deep teeth cleanings near you are specialized dental procedures that focus on the care below the gum line. This is done with the purpose of eliminating gum disease. During this procedure, bacteria, tartar, and other debris are eliminated from below the gum line through root planing and scaling.

Scaling involves removing tartar and plaque from the gum pockets and teeth. Root planing, true to its name, is the process of removing plaque from the roots of your teeth.

One of the main differences between routine dental cleanings and deep cleanings is that deep teeth cleanings in Downtown Calgary require the use of a local anesthetic. This numbs the area so that the hygienist can place tools under the gum line and near the tooth roots without causing the patient any discomfort.


If you have ever visited a dentist near you for a routine dental cleaning, you would know that there isn’t any aftercare required after a routine cleaning, provided that you continue to maintain an excellent dental cleaning routine.

On the other hand, there is some special care required after undergoing root planing and dental scaling, including:

  • Checkup: your dentist will have you come back to check that your gums are healing properly and that the gum disease is under control.
  • Maintaining a clean mouth: while cleanliness is always important, it is especially important to keep bacteria out of your mouth after a deep dental cleaning. Your dentist will prescribe you an antibacterial mouthwash to use as directed.
  • Antibiotics: in some cases, you may be prescribed antibiotics, which you should take as directed.

Signs That You Need Scaling and Root Planing

The best way to understand if you can benefit from a deep dental cleaning is to visit your dentist. At Bow Valley Dental, our dentist will discuss with you when and if you need a deep cleaning. Here are some signs that indicate a deep dental cleaning is in your best interest:

  • Deep gum pockets: our dentist can use a probe to measure your gum pockets; if any of them measure more than 4-5mm deep, then you likely could benefit from a deep cleaning.
  • Bone loss: this can be detected on an x-ray and indicates gum disease.
  • Inflamed gums: if you have chronically swollen gums, you may benefit from a deep cleaning.

If you would like to learn more about the differences between routine and deep dental cleanings, please visit our team at Bow Valley Dental today.