How painful is a deep cleaning? i had my first dentist appointment in several years last week, and my dentist wants me back for a deep cleaning. i don't like going to the dentist, and haven't heard of a deep cleaning before. is it something that generally

Since : Since it has been several years since your last dental visit, you probably had a large buildup of calculus on your teeth. Calculus is tenacious and needs to be scraped off professionally. For many patients, this procedure can be done with a local anesthetic. This will allow your dentist or hygienist to do a thorough job and you will not have any discomfort. Not cleaning the calculus completely can lead to periodontal disease and premature tooth loss.

What : What it really comes down to is how well your dentist numbs you. With proper dental anesthesia, the procedure should be painless. Post-operatively you probably will experience some thermal sensitivity. Your gums might be a little tender for a day or two, but it should be quite tolerable, especially with taking some ibuprofen. I recommend to my patients that they take 400mg Ibuprofen 1 hour prior to their appointment and avoid highly acidic foods for 48 hours. The biggest complaint i get is sensitivity to cold, which can be alleviated with sensitivity protection toothpastes. Crest, colgate and sensodyne all have products that will help, but they usually take up to 2 weeks to be effective. Ask your dentist what he/she recommends. There are numerous products that effectively treat sensitivity.

Deep : Deep cleanig is usually done with a local anesthetic and doesn't hurt at all.The whole purpose of the deep cleaning is to do it efficiently without pain and discomfort.

Very common: Especially if you have neglected your dental care. Over time tarter can accumulate under the gum line, and eventually destroy gum tissue. Procedure usually done under local anesthetic, so it will not hurt, but may be a bit sore after the novacaine wears off. Your dentist will give you post-rx instructions to keep you comfortable. Try not to go more than 6 months between cleanings.