What to Know About Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing

Statistics show that gum disease affects 48% of people over the age of 30 in the United States, and one in 10 is diagnosed with a serious case of periodontal disease. Tooth or periodontal scaling and root planning can help eliminate the signs of gum disease and keep your gums and teeth healthy.

What to expect with scaling and root planning?

What is Periodontitis? It’s one of the gum diseases. When you have gum disease, dentists primarily use periodontal scaling and root planing to improve your oral health. What is scaling and root planing in dentistry? These are non-surgical treatments for gum disease that are very effective. Dental scaling can be called deep cleaning of the teeth, using mechanical tools or ultrasound. It is worth noting that both manual scaling on teeth and ultrasonic cleaning show almost the same results, but the ultrasound takes much less time.

Root planing and scaling will help get rid of bacteria in the hardest-to-reach places, preventing tooth decay and other oral diseases. Teeth scaling procedure is required for many dental procedures such as fillings, laser gum surgery, braces, prosthetics or implants.

What should be expected after scaling? Scaling and planning is not even a preventive treatment, but a therapeutic procedure to fight the bacteria that cause disease. The battle against dental plaque must be comprehensive and include effective methods of self and professional hygiene.

Is scaling and root planing worth it? What are the benefits of teeth scaling?

Plaque is cleaned with a special ultrasound device called a scaler, which breaks up the hard stone into small pieces and removes them with a stream of water. Periodontal scaling and root planning is completely painless and may cause only mild discomfort to patients with very sensitive teeth.

The second step is to sandblast the enamel, the so-called “Air-Flow” method. Many patients think of Air-Flow as whitening, although it is not. The surface of the tooth is treated under pressure with a solution of soda and water, thereby brightening the enamel by several shades. This is a kind of periodontal scaling and root planing.

The sandblasting restores a beautiful white color of the teeth and is an excellent prevention of the formation of new dental plaque in the future. After the teeth are cleaned, the surface of the teeth is treated with a special fluoride coating to better protect the enamel.

Root planing and scaling helps to improve the overall condition of the gums and teeth, preventing inflammation of the gums and other dental problems.

To keep your teeth beautiful and healthy for as long as possible, dentists recommend professional scaling and root planing at least once a year.

What is root planing of teeth? Root planing (Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation) is similar to dental cleaning, except it is performed on the roots of the teeth that are below the gum line. The dentist gently pushes back the gum tissue and exposes the root surface, then removes tartar from the root areas of the teeth. This is followed by treatment of the area and eventually the gums are better aligned with the teeth and stop bleeding. 

What’s the difference between teeth scaling and root planning?

Different techniques are used to treat gum problems, and root scaling and planing can also be referred to a deep cleaning. If you have an advanced periodontal disease (periodontitis), you can get rid of tartar. What is periodontal scaling? If we’re talking about dental scaling, this procedure is aimed at removing tartar from the surface of the teeth, which is exposed when you smile. These cosmetic dental services help keep your smile attractive and keep your mouth healthy. 

 

What is root planning? This procedure helps to remove tartar and plaque that is under the gum line, near the root of the teeth (gum scaling). It also helps to prevent the recurrence of this plaque and allows the surface of the teeth’s roots to be smoothed, making the gum more securely attached to the tooth. Thus, the problem of tooth sensitivity and tooth loss is solved by dental planing and scaling.

Daily brushing, extra rinses and flossing are not able to completely clean your mouth. A small amount of plaque will gradually lead to tartar. Scaling and root planing can help you get rid of the problem effectively, but treatment must be under the supervision of a dentist. Only a dentist will choose the most appropriate method and clean your mouth safely to prevent damage and inflammation.

Is scaling and root planing procedures painful? Are there any risks of teeth scaling?

Periodontal scaling and root planing performed at Sola Dental Spa are done with maximum patient comfort and safety. Anesthesia is used most often for periodontist scaling, so the patient will feel almost nothing throughout the process. During gum disease scaling and root planing, the gums are usually sore for a few days and the teeth remain sensitive for up to a week. Immediately after the procedure, the gums may bleed, be swollen or sensitive.

How long does scaling and root planing take to heal? It is a relatively simple procedure, so the recovery time is short and takes usually not more than 3-5 days. During this time, the soreness and bleeding of the gums disappears. Sensitivity to hot or cold may persist for up to 6 weeks, this is considered a normal healing process of periodontist scaling. In order to speed up the healing process, it is recommended that the patient follow the doctor’s recommendations and be sure to observe oral hygiene. 

Tooth scaling and root planing itself takes several hours, depending on how much tartar the dentist needs to remove and what is the teeth condition.

Root scaling and planing procedure is known as the “gold standard” in the treatment of gum disease, and in most cases brings relief and improvement of the teeth and gums. As for the disadvantages, we can mention the presence of discomfort in the first weeks after the scaling root planing. However, based on the effect of the procedure, you can wait them out. Complications like nerve damage or infection, however, are very rare and largely depend on the skills of the doctor performing the procedure. 

What are the main care requirements after the teeth scaling and root planing?

The standard recommendation after visiting the dentist is to avoid eating for the first 2 hours. During this time, the fluoride coating finally sets. Avoid staining products and smoking.

Use a soft toothbrush for the next few days after planing and scaling to minimize pressure on your gums. Use a toothpaste with fluoride, which will continue to saturate the enamel with trace elements.

Avoid foods like tea, coffee, red wine, brightly colored fruits and vegetables for the first 3-4 days after planing and scaling. Eat light, hard fruits – apples, cucumbers, cabbage. Their active rubbing against the teeth removes the bacterial film.

Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations and don’t ignore proper oral hygiene after root scaling and planing procedure. This is largely what determines the effectiveness of the periodontal scaling. If painful sensations persist, it is worth seeing a doctor to find out the reason.

Tartar appears on everyone’s teeth. Poor diet, eating foods, sweets, lifestyle and unhealthy habits can all contribute to the plaque build-up. You can’t get rid of tartar once and for all, so to keep your mouth healthy, you must practice good oral hygiene and regular dental hygiene. Periodontal scaling and root planing is the key to the health of your teeth and gums.