Scaling And Root Planing
Tooth scaling and root planing effectively treat periodontitis, a severe gum disease. These deep cleaning procedures chip the hardened plaque off the surface of your teeth and roots and treat inflamed gums.
Our periodontists at Highline Dental Practice provide this treatment that prevents the loss of teeth, gums, and bone and helps protect your smile.Â
Who Performs The Scaling And Root Planing Of The Teeth?
Our experienced periodontists offer various gum disease treatments. Tooth scaling and planing are generally done in the same visit.Â
Who Needs This Dental Treatment?
Nearly half the Americans above 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Your risk of developing periodontal disease increases as you get older. Risk factors of this disease include:
- Overbite or crooked teeth
- Smoking
- Stress
- Diabetes
- Hormonal changes tied to oral health, like pregnancy
- Improperly fitted dental bridges
- Poor oral hygiene
What Are The Procedures For Scaling And Root Planing?
Our team of periodontists will first diagnose your mouth thoroughly, and X – rays will be used to check for cavities, bone loss, tooth abscesses, or other dental problems. If you have periodontitis, we will discuss the option of scaling and root planing with you.
Our efficient dental team will use a vibrating tool called an ultrasonic scaler to perform the tooth scaling process.
- A vibrating metal tip chips off the tartar and the plaque from your teeth above the gum line.
- A water spray on the scaler flushes the plaque and washes away the tartar from your gum pockets.
- Then a manual (not powered) dental scaler is used to remove the remaining pieces of tartar, along with a scraping device called the curette.
During root planing, our team of dentists and hygienists will:
- Use a tool to gently pull aside your gum tissue and expose the root surface
- Use the same scaling tools to chip away the tartar accumulated at your roots, making them smooth
- In certain cases, they may inject an antibiotic directly into your gum pockets to prevent further infections.
Once the procedure is completed, our staff will schedule follow-up appointments with you so that our periodontists can measure the pockets surrounding your gum tissue.
What to expect?
Dr. Kim will explain the process of tooth scaling and root planing in detail after thoroughly diagnosing your oral health. Root planing and tooth scaling is a deep dental cleaning that goes below your gum line to remove the tartar and plaque completely from the roots of each of your teeth.
To minimize any pain or discomfort that you might experience, our dentists will provide you with local anesthetics that will numb your mouth as you are awake during the procedure.
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After root planing and scaling, bacteria and plaque are less likely to stick on the surfaces of your teeth and gums. Inflammation reduces greatly, and your healthy gums will reattach more firmly to the tooth roots.Â
Our team of dedicated periodontists at Highline Dental Practice will ensure the procedure is carried out smoothly and effectively. You will enjoy great oral health, and your gums and teeth will become healthy again. We look forward to treating you with the best dental services so you can have a healthy smile.
FAQ
1. What must you not do after the teeth scaling procedure?
To eat or drink again, you must wait at least two hours. During the following 48 to 72 hours, we suggest sticking to a diet of soft foods. Over the following 72 hours, abstain from alcohol and cigarette use.
2. How long does it take to recover from this scaling?
Around your teeth, there will be some little soreness and sensitivity for a few days. For up to 4 to 6 weeks, you can also feel more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks.
3. Will my gums go back to normal after teeth scaling?
Of course, the remaining gum tissue will reconnect to the teeth, and your gums will return to normal. The new gum tissue will not regenerate as a result of this surgery.
4. Can I brush my teeth after dental scaling?
Following the procedure, you can have some sensitivity and bleeding, which is entirely normal. You can gently clean your teeth in circular motions with a toothbrush with soft bristles. Clean your teeth slowly and deliberately while being patient.
5. Are teeth scaling done on kids?
Absolutely yes, our pediatric dentists, who are very skilled in treating children, perform this procedure on children.