For Teeth Cleaning What Are the Different Levels?

There are many different levels of cleaning depending the health status of your gums and supporting bone.  Periodontitis is a disease process where bacteria (found in plaque and calculus) cause damage to the gums and bone that support your teeth.  We measure this by looking at the "Pocket Depths" around your teeth and by looking at the x-rays.  A full periodontal chart should be done (recording the "pocket depths", which start at 1mm and go up to as high as 12-13mm).  Normal ranges are 2-3mm (this would mean you probably need a prophy, or basic cleaning).  Anything higher than that and you may have periodontal disease, in which case you need a "Deep Cleaning."  Your dentist will let you know exactly what you need after he does a diagnosis.  During the cleaning, there are many things to look for, like a plaque index (the purple stuff - disclosing solution), ultrasonic cleaning, oral hygiene instructions, hand scaling, flossing, etc.  If you need a deep cleaning, you may also get anesthetic (numbing) in order to clean those deeper pockets. Hope that helps!