Gum disease
is caused by a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque then gets trapped in these pockets and cannot be removed with regular brushing. If untreated, gum disease could lead to bone and tooth loss. Usually, if gum disease is caught early enough, a regular professional cleaning will take care of the problem. However, if the pockets between your gums and teeth are too deep, scaling and root planing may be needed.
Dental scaling occurs with manual hand instruments, ultrasonic instruments or both. An ultrasonic scaling device will be used to eliminate the plaque bacteria with sonic vibrations. The ultrasonic scaling device removes tartar and plaque from the tooth surface and underneath the gum line. A manual instrument may be used next to remove the remainder.
Root planing involves detailed scaling of the root surface beneath the gum line to decrease inflammation of the gum tissue. The dentist scales the root surface to smooth out rough target areas, eliminating plaque development.
As a non-surgical procedure, scaling and planing are performed without any anesthesia in the dentist’s office. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area for complete comfort. Deep scaling and root planing are usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for proper healing time and reduces the time for each appointment.
As a non-surgical procedure, scaling and planing are performed without any anesthesia in the dentist’s office. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area for complete comfort. Deep scaling and root planing are usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for proper healing time and reduces the time for each appointment.
