An important part of your dental care is proper professional cleanings at least twice a year. Professional dental cleaning removes the plaque your toothbrush can’t reach. When plaque builds up over time, it turns to a harder substance called tartar, which can lead to issues including gum disease. When gum disease goes beyond the first phase, known as gingivitis, dentists will recommend root scaling and planing procedures to stop the progression.
Here, we look at the importance of dental scaling and root planing for gum disease, the difference between dental scaling and root planing, and how to ensure you receive the proper cleaning process for your needs.
Dental Scaling
What is Dental or Root Scaling?
Dental or root scaling is a routine treatment performed when patients are suffering from gum disease. It is the first step in periodontal treatments. Scaling removes excessive plaque buildup, targeting more in-depth areas of your gums and teeth that regular dental cleaning doesn’t address.
Your dentist will recommend scaling when they feel you are at risk of the harmful effects of more serious plaque and tartar buildup and the possible consequences of advanced periodontal disease. This procedure improves your oral health and prevents the advancement of gum disease.
Why is Dental Scaling Important?
If you’re suffering from gum disease, your gums become inflamed due to the bacteria in plaque. This inflammation is troubling as it causes your gums to start to pull away from your teeth. As the gums pull away, little pockets form, which deepen as more plaque and bacteria find a space to build up.
The location of this plaque can’t be reached by your toothbrush or your regular dental hygiene cleanings. As a result, without dental scaling, you increase the risk of tooth decay, bone loss, and tooth loss as your gum disease worsens.
What Does Dental Scaling Involve?
Dental scaling is a thorough cleaning process that reaches the plaque and tartar hiding in pockets and below the gum line. Depending on your condition, your dentist might apply a local anesthetic to reduce sensitivity during your treatment. There are two tools dentists use for scaling:
- Curettage. This manual tool is inserted below your gum line using a hook to scrape the plaque away.
- Ultrasonic scaler: This instrument is a powered tool that uses vibration and water to help remove the plaque and flush debris from the pockets.
Does Dental Scaling Hurt?
Dental scaling can be uncomfortable when gums are inflamed. As mentioned, a local anesthetic can be used to numb the area and keep you comfortable during your appointment.
How Long Does Dental Scaling Take?
This is a bit of a trick question. Typical dental scaling appointments are about 1 to 2 hours. However, you might need several appointments to remove all the plaque. Dentists tend to target one section, known as “quadrants,” at a time to alleviate discomfort. Also, if you suffer from issues such as TMJ, you might not be able to endure such lengthy periods with your mouth open, so appointments might be shorter or other accommodations can be made, such as sedation.
How Effective is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is highly successful at removing plaque. The treatment creates a “clean slate” that can be maintained with a strict home dental care regime. However, in some cases, dental scaling is not enough, and your gum pockets can continue to deepen. If this is the case, your dentist will recommend alternative treatments, including root planing.
Dental Root Planing
What is Root Planing in Dentistry?
Plaque and tartar stick to rough areas on the root surface where pockets develop, increasing inflammation and the risk of infection. Root planing of teeth is the next step in treating gum disease when scaling isn’t successful. It provides an even deeper scaling, targeting the root surface to smooth out rough areas where plaque builds up.
Why is Root Planing Important?
You need smooth root surfaces to fend off plaque, tartar and bacteria and allow your gums to heal. As your gums heal, they can reattach to your roots and reduce the risk of deepening pockets. This also reduces the risk of trapping more plaque and inflaming your gums again. Without root planing, it takes just 4 to 6 weeks for bacteria to repopulate your pockets.
What Does Root Planing Involve?
Root planing involves removing the following substances:
- Tiny amounts of the tooth’s dentin, the main supporting structure of the tooth
- Tiny amounts of cementum, a mineralized tissue that lines the dentin to protect the root
- Plaque, tartar, and bacteria
While you might worry that removing dentin and cementum would damage the tooth, the process is necessary to smooth the tooth and remove debris. Also, it only removes very small amounts. Your dentist uses the same tools and methods for both scaling and root planing procedures. However, for planing, the goal is to remove uneven surfaces. This reduces the areas where bacteria, biofilm, and tartar can hide following treatment.
In some cases, your dentist might apply medicine to the area to reduce the risk of infection.
How Effective is Root Planing?
Root planing reduces the pockets between your teeth and gums, which in turn reduces the risk of bacteria and plaque build-up from returning to the area. As a result, you can see reduced redness, bleeding, and swelling. This, in turn, prevents further progression of gum disease, bone loss and tooth loss while helping to manage chronic periodontal disease. However, you must maintain proper home care and schedule regular professional cleanings. If you have chronic gum disease, your dentist will increase the number of professional cleanings required and include scaling if build-up returns.
What To Expect After Dental Scaling And Root Planing Procedures
You can expect similar post-treatment experiences following both scaling and planing, including:
- Some pain or discomfort, such as throbbing for one to three days
- Tooth sensitivity
- Slight bleeding that decreases within two to three days
- Exposed root surfaces until the inflammation subsides
How To Avoid Dental Scaling And Root Planing?
Following a regular home oral health routine, in hand with your regular dental checkups is your best defense against gum disease and avoiding dental scaling and root planing. This includes:
- Proper brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
- Replacing toothbrushes when bristles are worn or after illness
- Daily flossing using proper technique
- Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash
- Avoiding unhealthy snacks, sugary beverages and sticky treats
- Quitting smoking
These simple steps will avoid the need for scaling and planing, keeping your smile healthy and bright and your gums firm and pink.
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