Scaling & Root Planing

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease (periodontal disease), your MyDentist dentist may recommend scaling and root planing, along with regular periodontal maintenance checkups, as part of your ongoing dental care, similar to your routine cleanings and exams. While scaling and root planing cannot completely cure periodontal disease, it is a highly effective treatment to slow or halt its progression. This procedure focuses on removing the plaque and tartar buildup, which are filled with bacteria that cause inflammation in your gums and surrounding bone. By addressing these issues, scaling and root planing can often reduce the need for future surgical interventions and help restore swollen, bleeding gums to a healthy, pink state.

• Instrumentation: The procedure utilizes handheld instruments, including a scaler and a curette. These tools, resembling a metal chopstick with a sharp, curved tip, are used to gently scrape along the tooth below the gum line, identifying and removing areas of tartar and plaque buildup. You may recognize these tools from your regular dental cleanings.
• Ultrasonic Scaling: Electronic scalers use ultrasonic vibrations to remove plaque and tartar. The vibrating metal tip chips away at the buildup, while a water spray simultaneously washes away the debris and keeps the tool cool.
• Root Planing: In the root planing phase, your dentist or hygienist smooths the surface of the tooth root. This process makes it more difficult for bacteria to adhere in the future and facilitates gum reattachment. The same tools are used, focusing on smoothing any rough spots. Following root planing, a disinfectant or antibiotics may be applied to further discourage bacterial growth.
• Patient Comfort: We understand that gums can be sensitive, especially when inflamed due to periodontitis. To ensure your comfort, we will numb your gums before starting the scaling and root planing treatment, eliminating any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Typically, only one or two quadrants of your mouth are treated per appointment. This allows you to eat and drink relatively normally after your visit as the anesthesia wears off.