Scaling and root planing aftercare

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, which are the tissues that surround the teeth and tether them to the bones beneath.  Gum disease is caused by an accumulation of plaque, which occurs naturally in everyone’s mouth.  With regular professional dental care and daily oral hygiene, plaque can usually be managed effectively.  If it is not periodically removed, however, plaque builds up and hardens, turning into tartar.  Tartar is much more difficult to remove and requires professional cleaning with specialized dental hygiene tools. If tartar accumulation is significant, it may become trapped in the area between the tooth and the gumline, leading to inflammation of the gum tissue and, gradually, to periodontal disease.  When periodontal disease is present, the gums, which normally fit snugly around the teeth, begin to loosen.  As the gums loosen, they form pockets that can become filled with more tartar and bacteria, which can lead to further infection. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and possibly to eventual bone loss, as well as a host of other possible problems.  Dental scaling and root planing combine to provide an effective treatment for periodontal disease.  Deeply cleaning and polishing all surfaces of the teeth, including those below the gumline and on the roots, allows the gum tissue to adhere to the teeth as it is supposed to.

At its  mildest, gum disease is known as gingivitis and can cause the gums to bleed easily, swell, and turn red and inflamed.  At this stage, gum disease can be treated relatively easily, both at home and at the dentist’s office.  If left untreated, however, gum disease may advance to periodontitis, which can destroy the tissue and bone that support your teeth.  As periodontitis advances, this bone and tissue loss worsens, which can lead to the loss of teeth.  There are many different treatments that can restore bone and gum tissues, and these range in complexity based on the stage of gum disease.  Most patients seeking treatment for periodontitis will, at some stage in their treatment, require a dental scaling and root planing procedure, which serves as a deep cleaning for the teeth.  Dental scaling and root planing remove tartar from below the gumline, including the roots of the teeth, which keeps bacterial growth in check and allows healthy gum tissue to adhere to the teeth.  Because your dentist will use various tools to clean beneath the gums, your gums will be numbed with a local anesthetic before your dental scaling and root planing procedure.  Once the treatment has been completed, it is important to wait for the numbness to wear off before you eat anything, to avoid injuring yourself unknowingly while chewing.  After the numbess has subsided, you may resume a normal diet, though it is recommended to avoid hard, crunchy, or especially acidic foods immediately following a dental deep cleaning procedure. You may feel minor pain or discomfort following a dental scaling and root planing treatment, but this should subside within a few days.  Your teeth may also seem very sensitive to extreme temperatures or excessively sweet foods for the first few days following a dental deep cleaning treatment.  Be careful to brush your teeth conscientiously but gently, as brushing too vigorously could cause bleeding.  If any areas in the mouth bleed persistently, a gauze compress may provide relief. If the mouth continues bleeding for 48 hours, contact your dentist as soon as you can.

Gently rinsing the mouth with salt water may soothe discomfort, though it is important to rinse gently, as vigorous rinsing may delay healing.  For the first few days following a dental deep cleaning, you may use an antimicrobial mouth rinse, and you should brush very gently and carefully.  If you are a smoker, try to avoid smoking for at least a week, if not longer, after a dental deep cleaning treatment, as smoking can considerably delay the healing process.  Acetaminophen or other non-aspirin anti-inflammatory medication may help minimize discomfort following a dental scaling and root planing treatment, and, if the teeth themselves are sensitive or uncomfortable, ask your dentist to recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.  Depending on the severity of your sensitivity, your dentist may also prescribe a stronger toothpaste or rinse.  Most patients recover from a dental scaling and root planing procedure within three to five days.  Regular home hygiene is of the utmost importance following a dental scaling and root planing treatment.  In addition to brushing twice daily in a gentle circular motion with a soft-bristled brush, dentists recommend using waxed-dental floss, which slips more smoothly between the teeth.  If your gums are too sensitive to floss, you may find that a waterpick can help remove trapped debris.  Make sure to visit your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning.  Following one or more dental deep cleaning procedures, most people report significant reduction in pain and inflammation of the gums, and with the proper aftercare, patients can maintain healthy gums and a beautiful smile for a lifetime.

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