A Deep Cleaning Treatment is Also Known as A SRP or Scaling and Root Planing Treatment
Of course, I must start off by telling you that you should always be under the care of a dentist. You also have the right to visit another dentist if you are not happy with the one that you have.
You also should not avoid recommended treatments without hearing the opinion of another dentist. You should always go to your dentist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.
Having said that, I am going to tell you how I avoided a deep cleaning treatment which is also called a SRP or Scaling and Root Planing Treatment.
My Alternative
I tried many different things. Nothing seemed to work. Every time I went to the dentist they told me that my gums were NOT better and that I needed to have this 'deep cleaning' treatment done.
They even told me that if I didn't get it done and I lost my teeth that it wouldn't be their fault. At one point I was told that I needed to sign a waiver. I told them I would sign one but they didn't actually have anything for me to sign. That was interesting...
So, eventually I came across this device. I thought I would give it a try. I used it a lot for several months and went back to the very same dentist who had told me that nothing else would help me but the 'deep cleaning' treatment.
The Results?
My dentist was visibly surprised and so was the hygienist. After looking in my mouth for a long time, the dentist finally said: "Whatever you are doing, keep doing it. You don't need that treatment anymore".
*Please be advised that you should be under the care and advice of your physician at all times. If you don't agree or have a question mark about what your dental professional is telling you, you might consider going to visit another dentist for a second, third and even fourth opinion.
I'm going to tell you about how I was able to avoid a Scaling and Root Planing Treatment. (SRP) I was cleared by the same dentist who told me I HAD to get that treatment previously.
Saving Money
These SRPs, in the United States, can be quite expensive. From what I can tell $1500 for the whole mouth is the average. Some areas of the country are much higher.
In addition, these treatments often need to be redone in 1 to 3 years.
More advanced (and more expensive) treatments may also have a temporary benefit, but the problem may return later.
What Is My Story
I was told that I needed one of these Scaling and Root Planing Treatments. I was told it was the only thing that could help me.
I tried a few things on my own to see if I could make a difference. But on every visit, they told me there was still a problem.
Then, I tried theHydro Floss Oral Irrigator . When I went back, the dentist and the hygienist both had apparent expressions of disbelief. After looking in my mouth for quite some time, the dentist said, "Whatever you are doing, keep it up. You don't need that treatment any longer".
Of course, I was quite happy to hear that. For around $100, I was able to avoid a treatment that often costs around $1500!
Knowing how to keep my gums healthy has probably saved me a lot more money over time!
* I can only tell you my experience. There is no guarantee that anything can work for 100% of the people 100% of the time. You should always be under the care of your dentist or periodontist. They can monitor your progress or lack thereof.
Here is how you can tell if it is working for you.
From your dentist, find out what your current periodontal pockets are. Generally speaking, most dental professionals will consider your gums unhealthy if your depths are above 3mm.
Conversely, they generally consider your gums healthy when they are all below 3mm.
So, you simply use your hydro floss the right way (in addition to your regular brushing and flossing) for about a month and then go back to your dentist and have those pockets measured again. Then you will know if you are improving or if you made it all the way, or if it is not working for you.
If your dentist or hygienist recommended a Scaling and Root Planing Treatment, which is also known as a SRP or 'deep cleaning', you should consider following their recommendation. If you have doubts or questions, you can always go to another dentist or periodontist to get a second opinion.
In any case, the need for such a treatment could indicate a serious problem. Gum disease, when it progresses beyond gingivitis begins to erode the tissue surrounding and supporting your tooth or teeth!
So, this is not a situation you want to take lightly. Your dentist is probably recommending the treatment because you have a number of periodontal pocket depths above 3mm.
Generally speaking, 3mm and below would be considered healthy. While above 3mm, generally speaking would be a problem. Perhaps you have five 4mm pockets, two 5mm pockets and two 6mm pockets - as an example. In this case, it is possible that your dentist will recommend this treatment.
In some countries a 'deep cleaning' treatment is inexpensive and this may not matter to you. However, in America, they can range around $1600 for your full mouth. Sometimes less, sometimes more - depending on a local conditions.
You should be under the care of a good dentist or preferably, a periodontist, under this scenario. Keeping your gums healthy is important if you are interested in keeping your teeth (or those that are left) for the rest of your life.
Gum disease is the number one cause for people losing their teeth.
I was personally able to shrink my periodontal pockets and get my gums to a healthy state again, using the Hydro Floss oral irrigatorand avoid the recommended SRP treatment. The improvement was noted by my dentist, who had previously recommended the SRP. She stated that I didn't need that treatment any longer.
However, it can never be said that any one thing will work for 100% of the people, 100% of the time. So, you definitely should not go off on your own to try anything.
Here is my suggestion. Talk to your dentist and see if they are willing to give you about 1 1/2 months to show improvement.
If you get that approval: Use the HydroFloss twice-per-day with two reservoirs per use (minimal) for at least a month. Then have your dentist remeasure your periodontal pockets. They will be able to tell if there is enough of a change to deem your gums healthy or not.
If you are a dentist reading this, consider sending any of your patients to ToothyGrinsStore.com to get their Hydro Floss. Once you see and experience the results that your patients get, I have no doubt that a good dentist would want more of his patients to use the Hydro Floss.
You could even have them use it as preventive home use tool. If you need Journal studies, try the Journal of Clinical Periodontology - May of 1993 and April of 1998 issues. There should be enough compelling information there for you to try this with your patients.
Once you see the results, I believe you will feel really confident to recommend this device to your patients more often.
Next: Regardless of whether you are a lay-person or a dental professional :