Your oral organs constantly interact with food substances and are thus vulnerable to bacterial infection. For this reason, it is essential to maintain proper hygiene by flossing and brushing your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after every meal, to prevent food debris from causing plaque accumulation. Over time the plaque becomes tartar and may interfere with the integrity of your gums, causing periodontal disease. Fortunately, physicians usually recommend various gum treatments Campbell, including root scaling, to eliminate underlying infection and alleviate symptoms.
What is tooth scaling?
Physicians perform teeth scaling together with root planing for a comprehensive deep clean. Although teeth cleaning is a different procedure for addressing gum disease, teeth scaling and root planing are more thorough.
You may need an initial consultation with your dentist to analyze the state of your teeth and gums and thus determine the severity of your condition. Anesthesia is a necessary component of the treatment, especially for patients with severe gum damage, including receding gums. Depending on your situation, you should expect the treatment to take more than one visit. Your dentist will develop an individualized treatment plan to address your specific oral health needs.
The great thing about teeth scaling and root planing is the faster recovery rate patients experience. You should expect most of the side effects of the procedure, like swelling and brushing, to resolve after a few days.
When are teeth scaling necessary?
Dentists usually recommend teeth scaling and root planing to patients with signs of chronic periodontal disease. These procedures guarantee an in-depth clean to eliminate all bacteria in the gums and thus manage disease by preventing the infection from spreading further to the teeth and gums.
Patients with chronic periodontal disease should seek emergency dental care to control plaque accumulation and prevent the gums from pulling away from teeth forming pockets for bacteria to hide. For this reason, physicians advise patients to brush their teeth and floss regularly to reach where toothbrush bristles cannot.
Chronic periodontal disease may result in severe dental complications like:
- Jaw bone and gum tissue loss
- Loose teeth
- Tooth loss
What should you expect during teeth scaling?
Most patients do not seek dental assistance because they fear pain. Fortunately, most dentists leverage local anesthesia to numb the treatment area during teeth scaling and root planing.
Dentists perform teeth scaling and root planing in-office as an outpatient procedure. Several visits are necessary, depending on the severity of your gum disease. After injecting local anesthesia into your gums, your dentist will scrape off any accumulated plaque, which is the root scaling part of the treatment. Root planing involves using a scaling tooth to smoothen the roots and thus promote gum reattachment to the teeth.
Most dentists put antimicrobial agents in the mouth to ensure bacteria-free gums. Depending on your doctor’s prescription, you may need to get oral antibiotics to help you heal faster. Contact Ueno Center Dental Specialists if you have dental concerns to receive an accurate periodontal disease diagnosis and start an appropriate treatment to restore your oral health.
