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Partial dental deep clean

(36 Posts)
Antonia Sat 11-Dec-21 10:51:49

I'm coming up for my second deep clean appointment shortly, and I'm thinking of telling the dentist that this is the last time I'll be coming. The first appointment was awful, and he wants four appointments of an hour each in total.
My lower gums are red, but I don't have toothache, or loose teeth, or bad breath.
The treatment will cost £400. I can afford it but I can't decide whether the treatment is really necessary, or whether the practice is trying to recoup cash from lockdown.
Has anyone else done this, refused to complete the treatment?

travelsafar Fri 25-Mar-22 11:43:15

I had my teeth cleaned,then a jet wash. I was in chair for over an hour and my jaw kept locking so dentist was massaging side of my face. It took so long as no cleans during lockdown. Next one already booked so hoping it won't take so long next time. Cost 150.00 which was the price I paid back in 2019.

Aldom Fri 25-Mar-22 11:08:27

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ErvinSmith Fri 25-Mar-22 11:00:42

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Keeper1 Mon 13-Dec-21 21:53:30

Healthy gums are pink if you have red gums then that would signify inflammation. The deep cleaning is a periodontal treatment to protect your teeth and gums. It is necessary to clean below the gum line as that is where plaque get in and will gradually loosen the teeth. It is nigh on impossible for you to clean there with a toothbrush but once the area is clean properly proper cleaning will maintain it. Money well spent better to spend money on cleaning then root canals or extractions.

crazyH Mon 13-Dec-21 21:15:04

Thanks Shandy

silverlining48 Sat 11-Dec-21 19:17:03

My nhs dentist always prods my gums top and bottom and then says a number. It’s usually 1 or 2 but sometimes 3. I was always fearful of a 4.
I knew it was something to do with the gums but no one has ever suggested I see a hygienist. He usually gives them a quick clean and that’s it.
Is this what you are talking about. Pockets? Eeeek!
Am staggered how expensive it is.

Shez1955 Sat 11-Dec-21 18:56:17

I recommend using a Waterpik prior to cleaning your teeth. It’s amazing how much debris is rinsed out. Never so much rinses out when cleaning. Fill the Waterpik with warm water.

Shandy57 Sat 11-Dec-21 17:59:37

@crazyH unfortunately where the gum is loose around the tooth, like a front pocket on a cardigan.

crazyH Sat 11-Dec-21 17:54:06

What’s a “pocket”

Oldbat1 Sat 11-Dec-21 17:47:44

Had dentist appointment and a hygienist appointment recently. I am still in loads of discomfort from the hygienist! She went way below the gum line and the sensitivity since is unbearable three weeks later. I went to see dentist again and he painted “stuff” on which has helped a bit. I’ve also had an extraction of double back tooth as due to Covid I didn’t want to return for numerous appointments required for a crown which my dentist wasn’t hopeful of being successful anyway. Prefer to see my dentist any day.

muse Sat 11-Dec-21 17:25:58

Antonia. I agree about having confidence in your dentist and hygienists. Hope you don't have to wait too long.

Curlywhirly Sat 11-Dec-21 16:39:19

When I changed dentist, the new one informed me that I needed their hygienist to deep clean my teeth (I am not surprised, as my previous dentist hardly ever cleaned them, despite me asking him, that's why I left). I was booked in for 4 one-hour sessions, each session involved injections before treatment. I now see the hygienist every 3 months for a regular clean.

Shandy57 Sat 11-Dec-21 15:55:04

I am sorry you have to have this intensive treatment.

I have serious gum disease as well as bruxism, and have lost a lot of bone, and also have to have 'deep' dentals regularly. I use floss, dental brushes, as well as floss, and clean my teeth very thoroughly but still get plaque. I have to see the hygienist every three months to save the teeth I have left.

Unfortunately I recently had to have a wisdom tooth out on both the left and right sides, I posted on here about my reaction to the adrenalin in the numbing agent. I don't look forward to check ups, but am glad to avoid pain if I can.

Nannee49 Sat 11-Dec-21 15:22:58

Please check/research the effect of insulin resistance and thyroid imbalance on oral health too Antonia. There is a lot of current data showing causal links of hormones to the inherent onset of gum disease.

Antonia Sat 11-Dec-21 15:19:44

Exactly, Sparklefizz. I just want my old dentist back! (Not 'old' in age, I mean old in that he's treated me for many years and I have confidence in him).

Sparklefizz Sat 11-Dec-21 15:12:56

I mean moving practices, not moving house grin

Sparklefizz Sat 11-Dec-21 15:11:45

and I don't mind travelling if I can continue to be treated by him.

I have followed my dentist around! He's now quite close to home, but it has been worth moving to be with him in the past because he's kind and gentle and knows his stuff, and is the best I've ever had.

Antonia Sat 11-Dec-21 15:05:00

@MuseYou are paying private fees for this treatment and I read you are on the waiting list for another dentist Antonia. Have you got any more private practices close to you without a waiting list

The reason I am changing my dental practice is that I had an excellent dentist whom I liked and trusted. Unfortunately he has moved to a practice about 30 miles away. I am on his waiting list and I don't mind travelling if I can continue to be treated by him.

muse Sat 11-Dec-21 14:48:18

When I first joined a practice I was booked in for two hygienist sessions. I have one third of my teeth missing so wear a partial denture.
The dentist had checked my teeth and found my gums around most of my remaining teeth were not very deep. The measurements with the periodontal probe were 4mm or 5mm.
Hygienist took 45 minutes to do the top and I had several injections. 2nd appointment for lower teeth (where there are fewer) took 20 mins and I didn't need any injections.
Total cost was £125.

Teeth took a couple of days to settle after those visits.

After those two visits, I did join the practice payment plan which is £17.50 per month and this pays for two check ups and two hygienist appointment a year.

Since then, I see her every six months for the cleaning and after 3 years of this it takes her about 15 mins now to do all my teeth . She recommended I use the interdental brushes of different sizes which have really helped my gums.

Last measurements were mainly 2 with a few 1 and 3.

You are paying private fees for this treatment and I read you are on the waiting list for another dentist Antonia. Have you got any more private practices close to you without a waiting list?

Good Luck.

EllanVannin Sat 11-Dec-21 14:24:36

Antonia. Thankyou.

Antonia Sat 11-Dec-21 14:17:33

Sar53

I had a deep clean earlier this year due to receding gums. Two appointments an hour each, one each side. Lots of injections, but after the first you don't feel the others.

It has made a huge difference to my teeth and gums. Each visit cost me about £300.00. It was at a specialist dental practice. Not pleasant and by the end of each hour I'd really had enough, but worth it to keep my teeth.

Now I visit the hygienist every 3 months for a normal clean and polish.

I could cope with two appointments of an hour each but the hygienist wants a minimum of four.

Antonia Sat 11-Dec-21 14:15:41

EllanVannin

A lot of bad breath problems arise from the gut or the sinuses rather than the teeth all the time.
Euthymol is a good toothpaste for the mouth and gums, as well as the teeth of course.

EllanVannin I'm so happy to see you're back!!

tickingbird Sat 11-Dec-21 13:20:41

I do agree that seeing and paying for a good hygienist really does help to keep teeth and gums healthy. I used to go regularly for this and pay privately for the hygienist as they spend longer and do a more thorough job. I moved house and didn’t find a new dentist until teeth started giving me problems. I had to have two back teeth out and two visits in two weeks to the hygienist and they’ve settled down. If I had kept up my regular hygienist visits I’d still have those teeth!

Sar53 Sat 11-Dec-21 13:05:37

I had a deep clean earlier this year due to receding gums. Two appointments an hour each, one each side. Lots of injections, but after the first you don't feel the others.

It has made a huge difference to my teeth and gums. Each visit cost me about £300.00. It was at a specialist dental practice. Not pleasant and by the end of each hour I'd really had enough, but worth it to keep my teeth.

Now I visit the hygienist every 3 months for a normal clean and polish.

Nana56 Sat 11-Dec-21 12:54:04

I had deep pockets, 4mm plus. I'm told the gum disease I have is hereditary.
I had one deep clean with the hygienist.
She numbed the area first.
I now go for scale and polish every 3 months.
Sadly I have lost some teeth bur now I have no active gum disease and the pockets are between 1 and 2. Good luck