A dental visit often involves a thorough exam and teeth cleaning. When you show signs of gum disease that’s progressed beyond gingivitis, though, your dentist may recommend a deeper cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Designed to clean tartar and plaque from your teeth below the gum line, this more intense cleaning is one of the first steps in treating periodontitis. 

Why Scaling & Planing Are Necessary

When you have a professional teeth cleaning, the hygienist focuses on the surface of your teeth, using tools to scrape away any plaque and tartar buildup at the gumline. If you have a history of poor brushing habits or skipped dental appointments, however, it’s possible for the plaque on your teeth to cause inflammation of your gums. 

When this happens, your gums may recede from your teeth and create pockets where plaque and bacteria can become trapped, leading to decay and possible tooth or bone loss. 

Although a regular teeth cleaning can prevent plaque buildup in these pockets if your gums haven’t receded too much, once the pockets become too deep, a deeper cleaning is necessary to reach the plaque below the gum line.

How Teeth Are Scaled & Planed

Your dentist has two options for scaling your teeth: using manual tools known as a scaler and curette to manually remove plaque by working between your gum and tooth, or via an ultrasonic tool that has a vibrating metal tip to break up the plaque and a stream of water to rinse it away. 

To plane the roots, your dentist or hygienist will use the same tools but reach deeper down to the root of your tooth to remove plaque. They’ll then resurface the root so the gum can reattach.

The process of scaling and planing sometimes requires more than one visit, as it’s time-consuming and at times uncomfortable. However, a local anesthetic is often administered to reduce discomfort to an easily manageable level.

After the Procedure

Scaling and planing are one of the most common treatments for gum disease, and with proper brushing, flossing, and cleanings, there’s a strong chance of preventing disease progression. Immediately after the procedure, you’ll likely have some pain and swelling in your gums as well as increased gum sensitivity, This will subside within a few hours in most cases.

Once your gums are healed, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with the dentist to ensure the pockets haven’t gotten deeper. If they have, you may need additional treatment for gum disease.

Caring for your teeth and gums requires good oral hygiene as well as regular visits to the dentist for professional teeth cleaning.  For more than 30 years, Dr. Robert N. Petrtyl, DDS has been helping Cincinnati, OH, families keep their smiles healthy and bright with compassionate and expert general dentistry services. In addition to preventive exams and cleanings, he offers fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, and other cutting-edge treatments. For an appointment, call (513) 554-4657 today. Visit them online to learn more about their services.