What is scaling and root planing?

If you have an excess of plaque accumulated on your teeth, this can lead to gum disease and should be addressed.  The routine procedure to remove excess plaque from the teeth consists of dental scaling and root planing newark oh and is sometimes called “deep cleaning.”  During a standard teeth cleaning, your dental health professional will clean the surfaces of the teeth.  If a more thorough cleaning treatment is needed, your dentist may recommend dental scaling and root planing.  Scaling is commonly performed on patients with gum disease and involves cleaning below the gumline to remove built-up plaque, which will solidify and become tartar if left untreated.  While some form of plaque buildup can be expected for every person, when plaque buildup becomes excessive, it can lead to gum disease.  Plaque is made up of naturally occurring proteins and bacteria that are present in your saliva, which covers your teeth with a thin film nearly all the time; when combined with tiny food particles, acids, and sugars in your food, this film builds up and becomes plaque.  Regular brushing and flossing, along with routine dental cleanings, will help remove this plaque as it builds up, preventing more serious problems from arising and helping keep your gums healthy.  When a person’s gums are healthy, the gum tissue fits tightly around the teeth, keeping plaque out of the area between the teeth and gums.  If you start to develop gum disease, the gum tissue surrounding the teeth loosens, causing pockets between the teeth and gums that can fill with plaque that is harder to remove and causes the gum disease itself to worsen, as well as causing unpleasant symptoms like discomfort and bad breath.  If the pockets in your gums are more than 4 millimeters deep, your dentist will likely recommend a deep cleaning treatment to remove this trapped plaque, treat existing gum disease, and prevent further disease from developing.

A dental deep cleaning procedure usually consists of two separate treatments: dental scaling, and root planing.  Dental scaling is the first step, involving the precise and cautious removal of plaque from the surface of the teeth just below the gumline.  Some dentists use handheld instruments to scrape the plaque from the teeth, inserting a thin metal instrument beneath the gumline to reach plaque that you can’t reach by brushing and flossing.  Other dentists will use an ultrasonic dental scaling tool, which vibrates to remove plaque while an accompanying water spray rinses out the pockets and washes away debris.  Dental scaling is often followed by a second procedure, called root planing.  Root planing is similar to scaling, but it cleans even deeper, smoothing the surface of the tooth’s root and preparing the root to allow the gum to reattach.

If you have sensitive gums, you may be bothered by dental scaling, which can be an uncomfortable procedure.  If you’re concerned about pain during a dental deep cleaning, your doctor can provide you with a local anesthetic to numb your gum tissue to reduce your discomfort.  A full deep cleaning procedure may require more than one visit, as most dentists will address one portion of the mouth at a time.  Some dentists divide the mouth into quarters, while others scale half of the mouth in each visit.  If you’d prefer to get the whole procedure done in one visit, it may be possible to do so; just ask your dentist.  It isn’t always an option, but with more mild cases of gum disease, it may be possible to scale and plane the mouth in a single, lengthier procedure.  Most people report some sensitivity or soreness following a dental scaling and root planing procedure.  Some people report mild bleeding or swelling for a few days following a deep dental cleaning procedure.  Your dentist may prescribe a prescription mouthwash to help keep the gums clean, and you may also want to use a desensitizing toothpaste to help with any soreness or sensitivity.  You will also review proper brushing and flossing techniques with your dentist, as it is imperative that you follow a conscientious oral hygiene routine to prevent excessive plaque buildup from forming again following a deep cleaning procedure.  Your dentist will also schedule a follow-up visit for you, to ensure that your mouth is healing properly and to gauge the effectiveness of the deep cleaning treatment.  Nearly 50% of adults in the United States have gum disease, and the deep cleaning procedures of dental scaling and root planing are very common ways to help fend off further gum disease and maintain a clean, fresh, and healthy smile.  Talk to your dentist if you think you’d benefit from a deep dental cleaning.

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