Scaling and Root Planing
If you have been diagnosed with the early stages of gum disease (gingivitis), then a regular dental cleaning will not be sufficient to return your teeth and gums to a healthy state. Luckily, gingivitis is reversible, and scaling and root planing will be recommended to deep clean your gums and teeth.
When sticky plaque is allowed to accumulate on the teeth, it hardens into calculus (tartar) and provides a more acidic environment in which bacteria and toxins flourish. This may cause dental caries and cavities on the tooth surface, but if allowed to accumulate below the gum line will also cause deeper pockets to form between the gums and teeth allowing more bacteria to accumulate, causing periodontal problems.
Gingivitis may cause the following symptoms:
- Red or purple gums
- Swollen gums
- Receding gums
- Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
- Bad breath
If allowed to progress, gingivitis may turn into periodontal disease, in which the underlying bone is also affected and ultimately tooth loss may occur. Proper oral hygiene with regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits will help prevent gingivitis and its progression into periodontal disease. In order to bring the gums back to health from gingivitis, scaling and root planing will be performed to deep clean above and below the gum line.
Scaling is accomplished with specialized hand instruments and an ultrasonic cleaner. Plaque and tartar are scraped and cleaned off of the tooth surfaces above and below the gum line.
The surfaces of the root of the tooth may be rough, giving plaque and calculus an easier surface to hold on to. During root planing, the root surfaces are scraped smooth to inhibit plaque and tartar accumulation below the gum line.
