Do You Need a Deep Dental Cleaning? Here’s How to Tell

You brush and floss daily. You get your teeth cleaned every six months. But during your latest dental visit, your dentist recommended a deep cleaning, and now you’re wondering why.

At Varni Dental in San Jose, we often help patients understand the difference between routine cleanings and deep dental cleanings. Deep cleanings aren’t just “extra cleanings”—they’re a specialized treatment for gum disease that can protect your teeth and gums from long-term damage.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is a Deep Dental Cleaning?

Also called scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning goes beneath the gum line to remove hardened plaque (tartar), bacteria, and debris that regular cleanings can’t reach.

It’s typically recommended when signs of gum disease are present, such as:

• Bleeding or tender gums
• Gum recession or swelling
• Persistent bad breath
• Deep gum pockets
• Loose teeth

If left untreated, gum disease can progress, leading to bone and tooth loss. That’s why we take early signs seriously.

Learn more about this procedure here: Deep Cleanings at Varni Dental

5 Signs You May Need a Deep Cleaning

• Your Gums Bleed Easily: Healthy gums don’t bleed during brushing or flossing. If yours do, it could be a sign of early gum disease (gingivitis) or a more advanced infection.
• You’ve Been Told You Have “Gum Pockets”: During your exam, your dentist may measure the depth between your gums and teeth. Pockets deeper than 4mm suggest that bacteria have started to damage the supporting bone and tissues. Deep cleaning can help stop that progression.
• It’s Been a While Since Your Last Visit: If it’s been more than a year since your last professional cleaning, tartar may have built up below the surface, making a deep cleaning necessary to reset your gum health.
• You Have Chronic Bad Breath: Persistent bad breath, even after brushing, may indicate bacteria and plaque under the gums. A deep cleaning helps eliminate the source and refreshes your oral environment.
• Your Gums Are Receding: If your teeth look longer or your gums are pulling back, you may be experiencing gum recession, often caused by infection beneath the surface. Scaling and root planing help remove the cause and promote healing.

Explore how regular cleanings prevent these problems in our blog: Maintaining Oral Health – The Role of Dental Cleanings

What Happens During a Deep Cleaning?

At Varni Dental, deep cleanings are typically performed over two appointments to ensure comfort and thoroughness.

During the visit:

• The area is numbed for comfort
• Plaque and tartar are gently removed from below the gumline (scaling)
• Rough root surfaces are smoothed (root planing) to help the gums reattach
• Antibacterial rinses or medication may be used to support healing

You may feel some soreness for a day or two, but most patients experience immediate relief from swelling or bleeding afterward.

Why Not Just Get a Regular Cleaning?

A regular cleaning focuses on removing plaque and tartar above the gumline as preventive care. A deep cleaning treats active gum disease by targeting the infection beneath the gums.

Skipping a deep cleaning when it's needed can allow gum disease to worsen, leading to more severe problems that may require surgery later.

Learn more about preventive vs. treatment care: Maintaining Good Oral Health

Restore Gum Health with Expert Care in San Jose

At Varni Dental, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Dr. Kinjal Patel carefully evaluates your gum health and recommends the treatment that best supports your long-term smile, whether that’s a regular cleaning or a targeted deep cleaning.

• Comprehensive exams and gum assessments
• Comfortable, modern deep cleaning procedures
• Ongoing care to keep your gums healthy

Visit us at 181 E Tasman Dr Ste 60, San Jose, CA.

Call or book online to schedule your gum health evaluation today.