Addressing Gum Disease Early
When oral bacteria accumulate underneath your gums, your toothbrush and floss can no longer reach them. Neither can your hygienist’s dental cleaning tools, which are meant to clean and polish the visible crowns of your teeth above the gum line. To remove bacteria beneath your gums, your dentist might recommend scaling and root planing, also known as deep cleaning. This procedure involves removing the harmful oral bacteria that have accumulated on the roots to stop gum disease from progressing and allow your gums to heal.
What to Expect From Scaling/Root Planing
The process of carefully accessing your teeth roots is more complicated than attending a general dental cleaning, and therefore, may require several visits to complete. During each visit, your dentist will carefully reveal the root surfaces in one area of your upper or lower dental ridge (a quadrant), then scale the root surfaces to clean away plaque and tartar buildup. Next, your dentist will smooth the root surfaces to discourage bacteria buildup in the future before sealing gum tissues.
If your gum disease has progressed enough, then you may also require an ongoing routine of periodontal maintenance with a periodontal specialist. Because each patient’s situation is unique, we advise patients with gum concerns to schedule an appointment with a member of our team to learn about their treatment options going forward.
