What are root planing and teeth scaling? How can it save your teeth and avoid dental emergencies, and when does it require to be done?
Dental scaling is generally suggested by a Lakeview, Chicago dental practice professional for patients who have gum disease and significant plaque buildup. During a routine cleaning, your dentist will focus primarily on the tooth’s surface. Dental scaling goes way deeper. We will go into much more detail about root planing and teeth scaling in this post so you can be prepared for your appointment.
How root planning and teet scaling can protect your teeth in the upcoming years
- Teeth scaling
You may have some questions if you have never had this operation done before. “What is a scaling procedure?” is likely to be the first question answered.
Plaque accumulation is eliminated using a standard dental cleaning treatment called dental scaling, conventional periodontal therapy, or non-surgical periodontal therapy. It takes place below the gum line. It goes far beyond the routine cleaning you will usually get when you visit for your checkup, even though it is still an outpatient treatment.
- Root planning
The dentist or dental hygienist will gently scale the root surfaces during the second phase of the procedure to smooth out any uneven areas.
It is more difficult for bacteria, tartar, and plaque to survive beneath the gum line on smooth root surfaces. Your gums can heal and reconnect to your teeth more securely when you get root planing, which lessens gum tissue irritation.
When do you need teeth scaling and root planning?
Your dentist will suggest teeth scaling and root planing if they detect signs of chronic periodontal disease in order to maintain your gums and avoid future harm to your oral health.
Bacteria found in plaque develop on and beneath the gum line, pushing your gums away from your teeth and establishing the groundwork for long-term periodontal disease. There are ample spaces where bacteria can increase between the gums and teeth. It eventually hardens into tartar and calculus that your toothbrush will not be able to eliminate. Gum discomfort and related dental emergencies, like the ones listed below, can originate from this.
For this reason, flossing is necessary to reach all the hard-to-reach areas between your teeth and surrounding your gums that your toothbrush cannot manage to reach.
Chronic periodontal disease, if left untreated, may lead to:
- Tooth loss
- Bone and tissue loss
- Loose teeth
- Misalignment and moving teeth
Does teeth scaling cause pain?
Scaling and root planing teeth usually involves minimal risk. For a few days after this deep cleaning process, you may experience a little pain and sensitivity, along with gum tenderness.
