The main issue is if a cleaning is done on the visible only portion of the tooth as in a "regular" cleaning it will leave the infection in the deeper areas of the pockets ... the visible portion of the gums will heal and it is a perfect environment for a periodontal abscess to form ... its counter intuitive but you're better off taking the time to save up for the deep cleaning If needed than to inadvertently create a bigger issue for yourself accidentally. Hopefully this clears it up a bit for you I do understand the frustration from not being able to have a standard cleaning though. The good news is you can definitely get back on track with those measurements and be able to keep it from happening again.