Oral health is an index for overall health. Oral health comprises healthy teeth and gums. Gum health plays a major role in maintaining oral health. Many systemic diseases are reflected as gum diseases in the oral cavity. For example, a diabetic patient might have severe bone loss and loose teeth. Many drugs like antihypertensive and antiepileptic drugs lead to gum swelling. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy can lead to gum swelling and ulcers. Hence it is of utmost importance to maintain gum health along with healthy teeth. Why Are Gums Important? Gingiva or gum is a major component of the periodontium, along with alveolar bone, cementum, and pdl. It is coral pink in color for healthy individuals. Gum color can be affected by the amount of melanin pigmentation and habits. Darker gums are usually seen in smokers and tobacco chewers. The gums are attached to the bone and provide protection to the bone surrounding the tooth. Due to various habits, systemic conditions, and medications, gum recession can be seen. This leads to the loosening of teeth, and they eventually fall out. Accumulation of plaque and tartar due to improper oral hygiene maintenance is one of the most common causes of gum swelling or gingivitis. Removal of accumulated irritants like plaque and tartar is the only means of reducing gum swelling and restoring normal gum health. What Is Professional Teeth Cleaning? The accumulated irritants like plaque and tartar can be removed only by oral prophylaxis or professional teeth cleaning. It is a procedure where a dentist or a dental hygienist removes the plaque and tartar either by hand scalers or ultrasonic scalers. After the prophylaxis, the teeth are polished, and the patient is given oral hygiene instructions. This is a conventional method of oral prophylaxis done to patients who maintain good oral hygiene. In some systemic conditions, gum health can be extremely compromised. The plaque and tartar deposits can be found subgingivally. Accessing these areas with conventional ultra-scalers can be a daunting task. Hence deep cleaning is performed in such patients. What Is Deep Cleaning? In patients with subgingival plaque and tartar deposits, deep cleaning is done. In this process, dentists use specialized instruments called curettes. These are designed with small heads, in order to access the deeper parts of the root and inter root regions of multirooted teeth. This process is called root planing. When the deposits are very deep, the dentist exposes the roots by opening the gum flap, cleaning the deposits, and suturing the flap. This procedure is called flap surgery. It is done under local anesthesia, and the patient might experience discomfort for a week or two. What Is Laser Deep Cleaning? The above-mentioned surgical procedure leaves the patient in discomfort for about 2 weeks. The bleeding and gum swelling throughout the procedure and postoperatively are inevitable. To avoid all these problems and to make patients’ experience pain-free, lasers have been introduced. Lasers, like diode lasers, are used in the deep cleaning of gum pockets. The laser is focused into the gum pocket with the help of a fiber optic tip. The heat produced from this laser light kills the bacteria, removes the tartar, and helps restore gum health. It also cleans the swollen gum tissue covering the root.  Is Laser Treatment Necessary After Deep Cleaning? Conventional flap surgery and flap elevation performed in a deep cleaning can be avoided by using a laser. As a result, the patient experiences less pain, less swelling, less bleeding, less healing time, and greater comfort. Hence lasers gained popularity in deep cleaning procedures in recent times. How Much Does Laser Deep Cleaning Cost? The laser deep cleaning is not indicated for all patients. It is not an alternative for conventional oral prophylaxis. It is done only for those whose gum health doesn’t improve even after regular oral prophylaxis. However, with the use of a laser, the cost of cleaning increases. Laser deep cleaning is on the pricier side compared to regular oral prophylaxis due to the use of the laser. Do discuss with your dentist whether you actually need a deep cleaning before making a decision. Does Laser Deep Cleaning Hurt? The laser deep cleaning procedure is performed under local anesthesia. It might hurt on the day of surgery after the anesthesia wears off. It slightly hurts for a day or two, but the recovery is very rapid compared to conventional flap surgery. Swelling and bleeding are also less. Maintaining gum health is the most important part of oral health. Healthy gums keep teeth firm within the socket and prevent premature falling out of teeth. Do consult your dentist regarding your gum health and explore various options for teeth and gum cleaning.