There are many different kinds of teeth cleaning treatments available at the dentist. One of the more popular choices of treatment is scaling and root planing.
The dental hygienist is responsible for performing scaling and root planing, and is naturally considered if you’re experiencing periodontal disease. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure that helps to reduce any chances of periodontal disease forming.
Periodontal disease is a condition where your gums become inflamed owing to bacterial infection. No treatment can cause the infection to damage the underlying tissue and cause your teeth to fall out.
How The Treatment Works
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning restorative procedure that involves removing dental plaque and calculus (or tartar) off your teeth and the gumline. Removing the dental plaque is part of polishing your teeth so any stains are also removed.
This treatment is completed in three parts.
Apply Local Anesthesia
Before treatment is administered, the hygienist will administer local anesthesia in order to reduce any sensitivity you may feel. The anesthesia is injected into the mouth and there will be a temporary loss of feeling. You will still be conscious during the treatment, only you won’t feel much pain.
Scaling
Secondly, the scaling process. The hygienist first removes the plaque and tartar to restore the missing shine in your smile. The hygienist locates for plaque and tartar between the gums and the base of the teeth. Scaling is performed with an ultrasonic instrument to loosen the substances to make it easier for the hygienist to scrape off.
Root Planing
Periodontal disease can damage the underlying dentin and your enamel. Root planing involves smoothing the rough surfaces of your tooth roots and removing cementum, the film that covers the tooth root. This helps the gums reattach themselves to the teeth.
What Happens After Treatment?
Once the treatment is performed, there will be some sensitivity once the local anesthesia has worn off. You may also experience swollen or tender gums. The hygienist will recommend that you keep your mouth clean at all times and will schedule another appointment to see if your gums have healed appropriately. Further cleaning may be necessary if periodontal disease still persists.
If your teeth and gums are covered with plaque and tartar, contact your local dentist to see whether scaling and root planing treatment is right for you. We can help you with this. Click here to get started.