Is scaling and root planing painful?

Dental scaling is a very common way to treat gum disease, and one of the most popular non-surgical treatments for gum disease, which is also known as periodontitis.  Dental scaling removes plaque and tartar from the teeth while helping restore the health of your gums.  If your gum disease is more severe and may require surgery, your dentist and your periodontist may recommend scaling and root planing in newark ohio, as well as a comprehensive teeth-cleaning, before your surgical procedure.  Excessive buildup of plaque, which is full of bacteria, causes gum disease.  Plaque is likely to build up at, and just below, the gumline.  If your gums are naturally receded from your teeth, you may face an increased risk of gum disease, in which case your doctor may recommend scaling as a preventative measure.  While routine dental cleaning cleans the exposed surfaces of the teeth, scaling cleans the surfaces of the teeth that are hidden below the gumline, removing trapped plaque and tartar.  Root planing goes deeper, cleaning the roots of the teeth and encouraging the gum tissue to heal.

Dentists and dental hygienists use two common types of dental scaling tools: hand-held instruments, and ultrasonic instruments.  Some may use both types, while others prefer one or the other.  Hand-held instruments include a scaler and a curette.  Your dentist or periodontist will use these hand-held tools to locate any spots of plaque or tartar, and then to scrape, or scale, this plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth and below the gumline.  Ultrasonic instruments have a vibrating metal tip that removes the tartar, and a small spray tip that cleans out debris with water.  This water spray also keeps the vibrating tip of the ultrasonic instrument cool throughout the scaling procedure.

Dental scaling and root planing cause minor discomfort, but your dentist will usually use a local anesthesia to numb the teeth and gums in the area that is to be deep cleaned.  Your dentist or hygienist will use specialized dental instruments to remove the tartar that has built up on the teeth above and below the gumline, sometimes also cleaning, or planing, the root to prevent the buildup of bacteria. Sometimes, the whole mouth can be deep cleaned in a single dental visit, though most dentists prefer to complete a deep cleaning treatment over the course of a few visits.  Immediately following a dental scaling and root planing procedure, your gums will remain numb from the anesthesia for a few hours.  Once the anesthesia wears off, your gums may be a little tender.  With regular, conscientious home dental care, your gums will soon heal and retain a normal, pink, firm appearance.

While the procedure isn’t painful, make sure your dental health professional knows your entire health history before beginning a dental scaling and root planing treatment.  Because of the amount of bacteria that can build up in plaque and tartar, a dental scaling and root planing procedure can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream.  If you are at increased risk of infection, or have a heart problem, liver disease, or an otherwise compromised immune system, make sure your dental professional knows this so that precautionary steps may be taken.

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