Deep Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing)
Teaneck, NJ & Roselle, NJ
 If a recent dental exam found gum disease that’s gone beyond gingivitis, RJ Dental performs deep cleaning – clinically known as scaling and root planing – at our Teaneck and Roselle, NJ offices. Deep cleaning is non-surgical periodontal therapy. We numb the area, clean below the gumline where a regular cleaning can’t reach, and smooth the tooth roots so your gum tissue can reattach. Most patients arrive at this page after their dentist or hygienist explained that pocket depths or bleeding scores indicate they need more than the standard cleaning.
This is different from a standard dental cleaning. A regular cleaning works above and at the gumline to maintain a healthy mouth. Deep cleaning treats active periodontal disease – the inflammation that develops when bacteria-laden tartar collects below the gumline and starts breaking down the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place. The two procedures are not interchangeable, and we don’t recommend deep cleaning unless your specific situation calls for it.
Deep cleaning is part of broader periodontal care at our practice. The goal is to halt active disease, give your gums a chance to heal, and put you on a maintenance schedule that keeps the disease from progressing. We’re upfront about what deep cleaning can and can’t do, and about the maintenance commitment that follows.
On This Page
What Is Deep Cleaning?
 Deep cleaning is the standard non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease that has progressed beyond gingivitis. The procedure has two parts. Scaling removes plaque and hardened tartar from the surfaces of your teeth, with most of the work happening below the gumline where a regular cleaning instrument can’t reach. Root planing smooths the surfaces of the tooth roots so the gum tissue can reattach to clean root surface rather than to bacteria-laden tartar.
The clinical goal is to interrupt the disease process. Periodontal disease progresses because tartar deposits below the gumline keep bacterial inflammation active. Once we remove those deposits and smooth the roots, the inflammation can subside and the gum tissue can begin to heal. In many cases, pocket depths reduce, bleeding stops, and the disease moves from active to controlled.
When Deep Cleaning Is Indicated
We recommend deep cleaning when one or more of the following apply:
- Pocket depths measure 4 millimeters or greater at multiple teeth
- Bleeding on probing is widespread, not just at isolated sites
- X-rays show bone loss around the teeth
- Tartar visibly extends below the gumline on the clinical exam
- A previous diagnosis of periodontitis has progressed since the last evaluation
Mild gingivitis without bone loss usually doesn’t require deep cleaning. We don’t push patients into the procedure when a regular cleaning and improved home care will resolve the issue.
Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning
The two procedures look similar from the patient’s chair, but they target different conditions and are not the same.
Regular cleaning (prophylaxis) is what most patients get every six months. It works at and just below the gumline, polishes the teeth, and doesn’t require anesthesia. The goal is maintenance of a healthy mouth.
Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) goes well below the gumline, requires local anesthesia for most patients, takes more time per visit, and treats active periodontal disease. The goal is therapy, not maintenance.
Insurance plans treat them differently because they’re different procedures. We don’t bill a regular cleaning as a deep cleaning, and we don’t bill a deep cleaning as a regular cleaning – the diagnosis on your chart determines which procedure is appropriate.
Your Periodontal Doctor in Teaneck and Roselle
Dr. Richard Buffong, the practice’s owner, diagnoses and oversees periodontal cases at RJ Dental – full background on Dr. Buffong’s bio. Dr. Buffong handles the periodontal exam, the pocket-depth charting, and the treatment plan. Our hygienists perform the deep cleaning itself, using both ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove tartar from below the gumline.
The diagnosis side matters as much as the procedure. Periodontal disease ranges from mild to advanced, and the right level of treatment depends on accurate measurements: pocket depths at every tooth, bleeding scores, x-ray review for bone loss, and consideration of medical factors like diabetes that affect healing. Dr. Buffong reviews your full periodontal chart with you before scheduling deep cleaning, so you understand why we’re recommending it and what the goals are.
The Deep Cleaning Process, Step by Step
A deep cleaning case typically spans one to four visits for the active treatment, plus a re-evaluation at 4 to 6 weeks after the final cleaning visit. Most patients are back to normal eating and brushing within 1 to 2 weeks of each appointment.
1. Periodontal Evaluation and Diagnosis
Your first visit covers a thorough periodontal exam: pocket-depth measurements at every tooth, bleeding-on-probing assessment, mobility checks, and a review of x-rays for bone loss. Dr. Buffong walks you through the findings and tells you whether deep cleaning is the right call, how extensive the case is, and what the treatment plan looks like.
2. Treatment Plan and Scheduling
Most cases involve either two visits (two quadrants per appointment) or four visits (one quadrant per appointment), depending on the extent of disease and your comfort preference. We schedule the appointments close enough together that the disease doesn’t progress between visits, but spaced out to give your gums recovery time. We also discuss anesthesia options and any medical considerations – for instance, patients on certain medications or with specific heart conditions may need pre-appointment antibiotics.
3. Deep Cleaning Appointment(s)
At each deep cleaning appointment, we numb the quadrant being treated with local anesthesia. The hygienist uses an ultrasonic scaler to break up larger tartar deposits and hand instruments to clean the smaller deposits and smooth the root surfaces. A typical quadrant takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on tartar levels and case complexity. We send you home with specific aftercare instructions and a scheduled follow-up appointment.
4. Healing Period
For the first few days, the treated areas may feel tender, especially at the gumline. Sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures is common for 1 to 2 weeks as the gums tighten around the teeth and the exposed root surfaces adapt. We recommend warm salt-water rinses, gentle brushing of the treated areas, and over-the-counter pain relief if needed. Your gums begin healing immediately; visible reduction in inflammation usually appears within 2 to 4 weeks.
5. Re-evaluation and Maintenance Schedule
At 4 to 6 weeks after your final deep cleaning visit, we re-evaluate your periodontal status: pocket-depth re-measurement, bleeding assessment, and review of how well the tissue has healed. If pockets have reduced and bleeding has stopped, we transition you to a periodontal maintenance schedule (typically every 3 to 4 months instead of every 6 months). If certain sites haven’t responded, we discuss next steps – sometimes additional cleaning, sometimes referral for surgical treatment if pockets remain deep.
Benefits of Deep Cleaning
 The most direct benefit of deep cleaning is that it interrupts active periodontal disease. Once we remove tartar from below the gumline and smooth the root surfaces, bacterial inflammation slows down and your tissue gets a chance to heal. Pocket depths often reduce by 1 to 2 millimeters at responsive sites, bleeding stops or significantly reduces, and the disease moves from active to manageable. Dr. Buffong documents these changes during the 4 to 6 week re-evaluation.
The longer-term benefit is preserving the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place. Untreated periodontal disease leads to bone loss, and bone loss eventually leads to tooth loss. Deep cleaning, combined with the maintenance schedule that follows, is what keeps the disease from progressing. Most patients who follow through on both phases at our practice avoid the surgical interventions that more advanced cases require – which is why we emphasize the maintenance follow-up at every re-evaluation.
Beyond the periodontal benefits, deep cleaning often resolves the symptoms patients notice in daily life: bleeding when brushing, persistent bad breath, gum tenderness, and the unsettling feeling that something isn’t right with your gums. Once we get the inflammation under control, those symptoms typically resolve within a few weeks. Patients often tell us during maintenance visits that the symptom relief was the most noticeable change – more than the clinical numbers.
- Stops active periodontal disease – Removing tartar below the gumline interrupts the bacterial process that causes ongoing tissue destruction; our hygienists use both ultrasonic and hand instruments to reach every affected site
- Reduces pocket depths – Pockets at responsive sites typically reduce by 1 to 2 millimeters; we measure and document the change at the 4 to 6 week re-evaluation
- Resolves bleeding gums – Bleeding-on-probing scores typically drop significantly within 4 to 6 weeks; for many patients, brushing stops triggering bleeding within that same window
- Preserves bone and teeth – Halting disease progression protects the bone that holds your teeth in place; we track this with comparison x-rays at long-term recall visits
- Sets up an effective maintenance plan – Once the disease is controlled, periodontal maintenance every 3 to 4 months keeps it from progressing again
The benefits compound when we pair the deep cleaning with home-care improvements that address what allowed the disease to develop in the first place. We cover those changes during the re-evaluation visit so they’re part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Why Choose Our Practice for Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is one of the procedures where the diagnostic side and the procedural side are equally important. Misdiagnosing a case as gingivitis when it’s actually early periodontitis means treatment doesn’t happen when it should. Misdiagnosing a healthy mouth as needing deep cleaning means treatment happens when it doesn’t need to. We’re careful with both directions. Dr. Buffong reviews your full periodontal chart, x-rays, and medical history before recommending deep cleaning, and we don’t bill a regular cleaning as a deep cleaning to inflate the case.
The hygiene side matters too. Our hygienists handle both routine cleanings and deep cleanings, and the same hygienist typically handles your maintenance visits afterward. That continuity means whoever monitors your response over the months that follow has been with your case from the start. Both our Teaneck and Roselle offices have hygienists who handle deep cleaning cases, so the office closer to you is where the work happens, including the follow-up maintenance visits.
We’re realistic about the maintenance commitment that follows. Deep cleaning isn’t a one-time fix – the maintenance schedule that comes after is what keeps the disease from returning. We tell patients this during the consultation, not after the fact. Patients who don’t follow through on the 3-to-4-month maintenance cadence often see the disease come back, and we’d rather you understand that going in than be surprised six months later.
Deep Cleaning Cost and Financing
Cost matters, and we’ll be straight with you about it. We typically price deep cleaning by quadrant or by half-mouth, depending on how we treat the case and how your insurance carrier processes it. A two-visit case (two quadrants per appointment) and a four-visit case (one quadrant per appointment) usually price out similarly in total; the per-visit cost is what differs.
We accept most major dental insurance plans, and our insurance and financing options list every carrier we participate with. Most plans cover deep cleaning under periodontal benefits, often at a different rate than routine cleanings – some at 80 percent, some at 50 percent, depending on the plan. The diagnosis on your chart (which uses specific clinical codes) determines coverage. Our front office team verifies your specific benefits before treatment.
For patients without insurance or who hit their annual maximum, our dental discount plan applies a 20 percent reduction to periodontal therapy. Flexible payment plans through Sunbit, CareCredit, and LendingPoint help spread the cost across months. Call (551) 369-2001 for a personalized estimate after your consultation.
Schedule Your Deep Cleaning Consultation
Ready to take the next step? Call us at (551) 369-2001 or request an appointment online to schedule. We’re at 865 Teaneck Rd in Teaneck, NJ 07666 and 121-125 Chestnut St, Suite 201 in Roselle, NJ 07203. Either office can handle your periodontal evaluation and deep cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deep cleaning hurt?
During the procedure, we numb the quadrant being treated with local anesthesia, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Some sensitivity is normal for 1 to 2 weeks afterward as the gums tighten around the teeth and the exposed root surfaces adapt. Over-the-counter pain relievers handle the post-procedure soreness for most cases. Patients with strong sensitivity or anxiety should let us know in advance so we can plan extra numbing or scheduling accommodations.
How is deep cleaning different from a regular cleaning?
Regular cleaning works at and just above the gumline; deep cleaning works below the gumline where tartar drives active disease. Regular cleaning is preventive maintenance for healthy mouths; deep cleaning is therapy for active periodontitis. Insurance treats them as different procedures with different billing codes. The diagnosis on your chart determines which procedure is appropriate – we don’t bill one as the other, and we don’t recommend deep cleaning unless your specific clinical findings warrant it.
How many appointments will I need?
Most cases involve either two visits (two quadrants per appointment, usually 90 minutes each) or four visits (one quadrant per appointment, usually 60 minutes each). The choice depends on the extent of your case and your comfort preference. Patients who want the work done quickly choose the two-visit approach; patients who’d rather have shorter appointments choose four visits. The total cost and clinical outcome are similar between the two approaches.
Will my gums grow back after deep cleaning?
Gum tissue can tighten and reattach to clean root surfaces, which is why root planing matters – smooth roots allow the tissue to reattach. Pocket depths typically reduce by 1 to 2 millimeters at responsive sites within 4 to 6 weeks. However, gum tissue doesn’t regrow once it has receded. If recession has already occurred, deep cleaning stops further loss but doesn’t restore lost tissue. For coverage of receded areas, gum grafting is a separate procedure that adds tissue back.
Do I still need deep cleaning if my teeth feel fine?
Periodontal disease often progresses without obvious symptoms in early and middle stages. Many patients with 4 or 5 millimeter pocket depths feel nothing unusual; the diagnosis comes from the clinical measurements at the periodontal exam, not from how your teeth feel. The reason we recommend treatment when measurements indicate it: untreated periodontal disease eventually leads to bone loss and tooth loss, and earlier intervention preserves more bone than later intervention. If pocket depths and x-rays look normal, you probably don’t need deep cleaning – if they don’t, addressing the disease earlier produces better outcomes.
How often will I need deep cleaning in the future?
After deep cleaning, most patients move to periodontal maintenance every 3 to 4 months instead of the standard 6-month cleaning schedule. The shorter interval is necessary because periodontal disease tends to recur without active management. Some patients can return to a 6-month cadence after several years of stable maintenance, but we make the call based on your individual response, not on time elapsed. The maintenance visits are not the same as deep cleaning – they’re more thorough than a routine prophylaxis but less invasive than the initial therapy.
Will I need surgery after deep cleaning?
Most cases respond well to deep cleaning alone and don’t require surgery. The re-evaluation at 4 to 6 weeks tells us how well the tissue responded: pockets that closed to 3 millimeters or less indicate the procedure worked, and we transition to maintenance. Pockets that remained at 5 millimeters or greater at specific sites may need surgical follow-up – pocket reduction surgery, gum grafting at recession sites, or other procedures depending on what the re-evaluation shows. Surgery isn’t the default outcome; it’s the next step when deep cleaning alone wasn’t enough at specific sites.
Why should I choose RJ Dental for deep cleaning in Teaneck or Roselle?
Three reasons. First, Dr. Buffong performs the periodontal exam and treatment planning himself rather than delegating diagnosis to other team members, so the case management is consistent. Second, our hygienists are responsible for both the deep cleaning and the maintenance visits afterward, which means continuity in who’s monitoring your response. Third, we’re upfront about the maintenance commitment – some patients underestimate it, and we’d rather you understand that part of the deal before treatment than discover it after the fact.
Does dental insurance cover deep cleaning?
Most dental plans cover deep cleaning under periodontal benefits, but the rate varies more than for routine cleanings. Some plans cover at 80 percent up to the annual maximum; others cover at 50 percent or less. Insurance plans typically reimburse deep cleaning once per quadrant every 24 months, so insurance may not cover re-treatment at the same site within that window. Our front office verifies your specific plan’s coverage before treatment and provides a written estimate. For patients without insurance, our discount plan applies a 20 percent reduction to periodontal therapy. |
