A regular dental cleaning (prophylaxis) is preventive care for healthy gums or mild gingivitis, while a dental deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is a therapeutic treatment for gum disease. A regular dental cleaning removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces above the gumline, but a dental deep cleaning targets hardened deposits and toxins below the gumline and smooths roots to help gums reattach. Regular dental cleanings are less frequent, less intensive, and take less time than a dental deep cleaning, but dental deep cleanings are one of the most effective ways to halt the progression of gum disease.
At Dental Depot of KCMO, our experienced dentists and dental hygienists provide both regular dental cleanings to maintain healthy gums and dental deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) to treat gum disease, all delivered with a commonsense approach at an affordable price. With a full complement of comprehensive dental care services under one roof, you can move seamlessly from preventive visits to periodontal therapy and restorative care without juggling multiple offices. Our team’s expertise and clear communication will keep you comfortable and informed no matter what you’re here for, while our commitment to prevention and restoration helps protect the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
A regular dental cleaning, or a prophylaxis, is the kind of visit most people think of when they picture a routine trip to the dentist. It’s a preventive appointment and meant for those who have generally healthy gums and no active signs of gum disease.
During the cleaning, a dental hygienist will gently clear away the plaque and tartar that naturally build up on your teeth, especially in the spots your toothbrush can’t quite reach. They’ll clean above the gumline and between the teeth, then polish everything to remove stains and leave your enamel feeling smooth. You may also receive a fluoride treatment, depending on your needs.
Most people come in for this type of cleaning every six months. Besides giving your teeth a good scrub, these visits are also a chance to check in on your overall oral health. If there’s anything starting to go off track, like early signs of gum trouble or a tiny cavity forming, your dental team can catch it before it becomes a bigger issue.
A dental deep cleaning is a more involved procedure also known as scaling and root planing. It’s not part of routine maintenance but is a treatment that’s done when signs of gum disease (like gingivitis or periodontitis) are present.
The goal of a deep cleaning is to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from below the gumline, where regular brushing and flossing can’t reach. First, the dental hygienist or dentist will perform scaling, which involves carefully removing deposits from the tooth roots and gum pockets. Then comes root planing, where the root surfaces are smoothed out to help the gums reattach and to discourage further bacterial buildup.
Dental deep cleanings are usually done in sections, often over two or more appointments. To keep you comfortable, the area being treated may be numbed.
Though they sound similar, a dental deep cleaning and a regular dental cleaning are different procedures performed for different reasons.
A regular dental cleaning is focused on routine oral health maintenance.
A dental deep cleaning is more than an aggressive or “thorough” cleaning; it is a medical treatment designed to address infection, inflammation, and damage caused by gum disease. It targets areas that aren’t normally cleaned during a regular appointment and focuses on healing, not just hygiene.
A regular cleaning helps prevent problems by removing the soft plaque and tartar on the tooth surface and right at the gumline.
A dental deep cleaning addresses existing gum disease by treating hardened tartar and bacterial toxins beneath the gumline, reducing periodontal pockets, controlling infection, and helping gums reattach to cleaner root surfaces.
For most patients, regular cleanings are recommended twice a year. That frequency helps remove plaque before it can harden and gives your dental team a chance to catch early signs of trouble.
Deep cleanings aren’t done on a routine schedule; they’re performed as needed to treat gum disease. Once completed, you may need ongoing periodontal maintenance cleanings every 3–4 months, especially if you’ve had moderate to severe gum issues in the past. These cleanings go deeper than regular cleanings but don’t require scaling and root planing each time.
Regular cleanings are for patients with healthy gums or mild gingivitis, including no bone loss, minimal bleeding, and shallow periodontal pockets.
Dental deep cleanings are for patients with signs of periodontal (gum) disease, such as bleeding, inflammation, tartar below the gumline, and periodontal pockets greater than 4 mm (often with bone loss).
Regular dental cleanings clean the tooth surfaces and just above the gumline, lightly touching the shallow, healthy cuff around each tooth. They can usually be done in about 30-60 minutes.
Dental deep cleanings go below the gumline on the root surfaces into the periodontal “pockets” where gums have detached. It is done by quadrant or half-mouth and can take 60-90 minutes per side (30-60 minutes per quadrant) over 1-2 visits.
Numbing isn’t usually necessary for regular dental cleanings. At most, a topical gel may be used for a sensitive spot, and you’ll feel light pressure/vibration from the scaler and polisher.
During a dental deep cleaning, local anesthesia (small injections) is commonly used to keep you comfortable while the hygienist works below the gumline. For very sensitive patients, nitrous oxide or oral sedation may be offered.
A regular dental cleaning uses an ultrasonic scaler and basic hand instruments to remove plaque/tartar above the gums, followed by a rubber cup polish and floss. Tips and blades are designed for supragingival (above-gum) deposits.
A dental deep cleaning requires slimmer ultrasonic tips and specialized hand instruments to remove hardened plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from root surfaces.
You may experience minimal tenderness, if any, after a regular dental cleaning, and will return to the dentist in about six months (for most patients).
After a dental deep cleaning, you’ll likely experience some temporary soreness, mild bleeding, and cold sensitivity for a few days, and may require some over-the-counter pain relief. You will also need a follow-up visit and more frequent cleanings (called periodontal maintenance) to keep bacteria from recolonizing.
Your dentist may recommend a dental deep cleaning if you’re showing signs of gum disease, which often starts with inflammation and bleeding.
These symptoms suggest that plaque and tartar have started to irritate or infect the gums. If left untreated, this can lead to bone loss or even tooth loss, and a dental deep cleaning helps interrupt that cycle.
If you’ve been told you need a dental deep cleaning, it’s important not to put it off. Gum disease is progressive, which means if it isn’t treated, it gets worse. The early stages might be mild and painless, but over time the infection can cause gum recession, bone loss, and even tooth loss. Bacteria from gum disease can also enter your bloodstream, which has been linked to heart disease, diabetes complications, and other health concerns.
Dental deep cleaning is one of the most effective ways to stop gum disease in its tracks, and the sooner it’s done, the easier the condition is to manage.
Most deep cleanings are done in two appointments, especially if your gum disease is more advanced. We typically treat one half of the mouth at a time. Before we begin, we use a local anesthetic to numb the area, so you won’t feel discomfort during the procedure.
You may feel some tenderness, slight bleeding, or mild soreness afterward. This is normal and should subside in a day or two. We’ll give you aftercare instructions to help the healing process, which might include rinsing with warm salt water, eating soft foods, and keeping up with brushing and flossing.
In some cases, we’ll schedule a follow-up visit to check how your gums are healing. If everything looks good, you may move into a more frequent cleaning schedule (usually every three or four months) to keep gum disease from returning.
Dental Depot of KCMO makes it easy to keep your family’s care in one familiar place. With multiple convenient locations across the Kansas City metro area and a coordinated team of experienced dental professionals, you can move seamlessly from routine cleanings to periodontal therapy, fillings, crowns, and cosmetic upgrades—plus any follow-up or maintenance—without bouncing between offices. It’s comprehensive, commonsense dentistry for every age and stage of life, delivered by people who know your history and goals.
At Dental Depot of KCMO, we also believe in keeping care accessible and affordable through flexible financing and payment options, easy scheduling, transparent estimates, and acceptance of most major insurance plans. Whether you’re booking a child’s preventive visit or planning a restorative or cosmetic case, we’ll help you map out a plan that fits your timeline and budget.
Ready to start smiling with confidence again? Call Dental Depot of KCMO location nearest you or book online to schedule your appointment today.
