I've been told that i need a deep cleaning, but do i really? i went to a new dentist in my new town last week, and he told me i needed to come back for a deep cleaning. i've always taken great care of my teeth, and have never needed this procedure before.

Periodontal : Periodontal disease can be a painless process. Simple because you don't "feel" anything, does is not indicate the treatment required. A current full set of radiographs and periodontial probings (which measure the depth of the pockets of the gums around each tooth) will indicate the severity of the problem. The deeper the pockets, the more dense the build up, and the amount of bone loss, will all determine whether scaling (deep cleaning) is needed. Left untreated, you may not notice anything abnormal until you develop a periodontal abscess or tooth mobility, which can lead to tooth loss. The types of bacteria that causes periodontal disease is different from the types that cause decay. Therefore, if you do not have any fillings that does not mean that you can not have periodontal issues.

Washington, Yes : Washington, yes and no. It could be a scam, or the dentist could actually recommending needed treatment because he/she doesn't want you to loss your teeth. Periodontal disease usually only hurts when your teeth fall out and someone hands you a bill to replace them. Hope that is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow dentistry at suburban square 610-649-0313 www.Dentistryatsuburbansquare.Com.

For : For waht reasons were you give that you needed this procedure? The diagnosis of peridontal disease can only be made by examining the areas around each tooth. Did they do that? If you had periodontal pocket measurement of four or greater, or if you had exceesive bleeding upon when you had your teeth scaled, then you might be a candidate for deep cleanings. As far as feeling fine- that is not a good indicator. There is generally no pain with periodontal disease, much the same as with high blood pressure. With all that said, i believe that deep cleanings are over diagnosed sometimes based on your insurance coverage.