Scaling and root planing is a dental procedure used in the treatment of gum disease. For early stage gum disease (gingivitis) it can be very effective. For late stage disease (periodontitis), it may be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Gum disease treatment is necessary to prevent further damage to the gums and teeth. Learn more about how scaling and root planing work in our blog.
Scaling and root planing is a commonly used gum disease treatment method.
Gum Disease Treatment: Scaling and Root Planing
What is gum disease?
The culprit behind gum disease is plaque. Plaque is an acid that forms in your mouth as a byproduct of the bacteria in your mouth that digest food. When plaque is not removed via brushing and flossing, it hardens and releases toxins. The toxins break down the gum fibers and create periodontal pockets. These pockets loosen the gums hold on the teeth, and also fill up with more toxins, accelerating the effect. If this is allowed to continue long enough, these pockets will reach all the way to the bone holding the tooth in place, loosening its grip and leading the tooth to fall out.
Scaling and Root Planing
In order to perform this gum disease treatment, the dentist will first examine your gums using a periodontal probe. This instrument measures the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. In healthy gums, this distance is 3mm or less. In unhealthy gums, the distance is larger, allowing plaque and bacteria to get in these pockets and do damage.
First, your gums will be numbed using a numbing gel or anesthetic. Next is the process of scaling, which is when the dentist uses what’s known as scaler to clean out the bacteria and plaque that have accumulated in these pockets.
After scaling is complete, root planing is performed. This is the smoothing of the tooth surfaces. This serves two purposes. One, it prevents plaque from building up on the surfaces of the roots. And second, it allows the gum tissue to heal.
Gingivitis treatment usually requires scaling and planing every 3 months until the pockets are 3mm or less, along with a daily routine of brushing, flossing, and medicated rinse. Treatment of advance periodontitis requires scalign and root planing along with more intensive treatments.
You may experience some bleeding in the days after the treatment, which is normal and should subside. Call your dentist if it does not. Some mouth discomfort is also normal after this gum disease treatment.
Don’t forget to see our blog for tips on how to prevent gum disease.
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