What to Know About Teeth Scaling and Root Planing

 


Tooth Scaling and Root Planing- An Introduction

Teeth Scaling and Root Planing are more in-depth dental procedures than regular teeth cleaning, that help to treat gum disease/periodontitis and excessive plaque buildup. 

Scaling is a dental procedure that helps to remove plaque buildup by reaching below the gum line. 

Teeth Scaling and Root Planing are usually recommended together by dentists and both these procedures are in a common language known as “deep cleaning“. More than one dental visit is usually needed for the procedure. 

A local anesthetic may also sometimes be required depending on the extent of the chronic periodontal disease or if the patient has receding gums.

Why and When Are Teeth Scaling and Root Planing Needed?

The dentist recommends teeth scaling and root planing for patients with symptoms of chronic periodontal disease.

The procedure can help to prevent the harmful effects of the disease, at the same time preserving the health of the mouth.

Gum disease is caused by the continuously forming plaque on the teeth, causing severe infection or inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth.

The buildup of bacteria on the teeth can turn into tartar or dental calculus. The bacteria in plaque makes the gums pull away from the teeth, creating large pockets between the teeth and gums leading to chronic periodontal disease.

An untreated chronic periodontal disease can lead to:

  • Reddening, bulging & bleeding of  gums
  • Bone and tissue loss
  • Loss of teeth
  • Loosening of teeth
  • Moving teeth

Usually affecting many adults over the age of 30, some of the reasons that lead to the development of chronic periodontal disease are:

  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Smoking and use of tobacco 
  • Age & hormonal changes 
  • Malnutrition
  • Genetics 
  • A few medical conditions

It is important to remember that the prevention of gum disease is possible with proper care of the teeth and gum care plus regular dental visits. Flossing regularly is extremely important to reach the spots in the mouth that toothbrushes can’t.

However, the dental professionals at Morgan Hill Dentistry explain that the pockets of 4 millimeters or more can only be treated with a dental scaling to get rid of the plaque beneath the gum line.

Procedure 

Teeth scaling and root planing are outpatient procedures that should be strictly performed by an expert and trained dental professional in a well-equipped clinic.

The procedure may need more than one appointment, based on how bad the condition of the teeth and gums is.

At Morgan Hill Dentistry, our team of expert dentists performs the procedure with utmost expertise and care, ensuring the full comfort of our patients. The procedure usually involves the following steps:

  • The area is numbed, using a local anesthetic in more severe cases to reduce the discomfort of the procedure.
  • The plaque and tartar are scraped from the teeth and from below the gum line from large pockets if any between the teeth and gums. This process is called teeth scaling.
  • Root planing is the next step in the procedure where the dentist, with the help of a scaling tool, planes or smooths out the rough surfaces on the roots of the teeth, allowing the gums to reattach to the teeth.

However, it is imperative to mention here that some patients may need extra treatment based on the health of the teeth and gums.

The dentist may then recommend some antimicrobial agents to be used or prescribe oral antibiotics for a few days to make sure that the healing is proper and fast. 

Periodontal scaling and root planing may take more than one dental visit depending on the condition of the teeth and a post-procedure checkup may also be needed afterward.

The scaling of teeth is usually done using one of the two basic methods:

  • The procedure can be performed with traditional handheld thin metal tools like a scalar and a curette, which are inserted beneath the gum line to reach the plaque not accessible by the toothbrush 

  • In another method, the dentist scales the teeth using an ultrasonic device which includes a vibrating metal tip incorporated with a cool water spray. The tip of the tool chips away the tartar while the water flushes out the debris from the pocket.

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Location: Ludhiana, Punjab, India

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