Daily brushing and flossing are necessary to maintain oral health. However, if you suffer from periodontitis, you should seek a professional’s intervention. Also known as gum disease, periodontitis, if left untreated, results in tooth loss and bone deterioration. Modern dentistry has a highly effective solution to gum disease called scaling and root planing. It treats gum disease from the root.

You could be eligible for scaling and planing if you have gum disease symptoms like receding gums, bad breath, or bleeding gums. At Tayani Dental Group, we are the go-to dental clinic if you need scaling and planing treatment in Fullerton. Our dental professionals will assist you through the treatment process.

An Overview of Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a specialized and non-surgical dental procedure to treat gum disease at its source. It cleans deeper than your normal oral cleaning routine, which only addresses the visible parts of your teeth. The procedure is done under local anesthesia, where your dentist cleanses your gum line and smooths the tooth roots beneath the gumline to remove harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar that accumulate in the pockets between your teeth and gums.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, begins as gingivitis, a less serious form of gum inflammation many people have. If you do not address gingivitis, it will evolve into periodontitis. At the advanced stage, gums pull away from the teeth and create deep pockets where bacteria and plaque can collect. When these pockets enlarge, bacteria spread, causing an infection. This infection results in bone and tissue damage and tooth loss.

The first step in cleaning your teeth at the dental office is scaling. The dentist cleans beneath your gums to eliminate the build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth' surfaces. The purpose of the cleaning is to kill the bacteria that cause infection.

The second part of the procedure after scaling is planing. During root planing, your dentist will smooth out the surfaces of your teeth’ roots. Smoothing helps prevent bacteria from reattaching the roots, decreasing the risk of further infection.

The Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing

You benefit the most from scaling and root planing if your periodontitis issue is moderate to severe. Specific advantages are:

  • Prevents Tooth Loss. Scaling and root planing help the gums heal and reattach your teeth. Therefore, your teeth become more stable, reducing the risk of tooth loss.
  • Controls Infection. Scaling and root planing thoroughly clean under the gumline, removing the harmful bacteria that cause inflammation and infection. Removing bacteria lowers the risk of systemic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory ailments.
  • Enhances the Appearance of Gums. Healthy gums mean teeth sit closer, showing an aesthetically pleasing smile. Scaling and root planing reduce inflammation and recession by treating gum disease and promoting regeneration.
  • Improves Oral Hygiene. Scaling and root planing to eliminate plaque and tartar make it easier to maintain oral hygiene. The procedure minimizes gum pockets, making brushing and flossing easier. Also, after the dentist visit, you notice a significant improvement in symptoms such as bleeding gums, bad breath, and sensitivity.
  • Promotes Overall Health. Treating periodontal disease heals your gums and maintains teeth. Scaling and root planing reduce infection and inflammation, lowering the risk of related systemic conditions and offering broader health benefits beyond the mouth.

When is Scaling and Root Planing Necessary?

Scaling and root planing become necessary if gum disease progresses beyond its early stage, also called gingivitis. If you suffer from periodontitis, your normal dental care routine, such as brushing and flossing, is insufficient. During this stage, scaling and root planing is recommended to stop the disease from progressing further and prevent further damage.

Your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing if you have bleeding or receding gums and halitosis (bad breath). These are signs of an ongoing bacterial infection that regular oral hygiene practices cannot address. Scaling removes the plaque and tartar buildup that causes inflammation and infection. Afterward, planing smooths the roots of your tooth. Smoothed roots prevent bacteria from reattaching and encourage gum healing.

You also require scaling and planing if you experience bone loss, which is common in advanced periodontitis. If the supporting bone is compromised, teeth are more susceptible to movement and loss. Scaling and root planing address the root cause of the disease and protect both the gum tissue and the underlying bone.

Even if you suffer moderate to severe periodontitis, you need to undergo scaling and root planing. The procedure helps manage your condition. After gum disease progresses to a certain stage, you cannot cure it but manage it.

How the Scaling and Root Planing Process Works

There are a few steps of scaling and planing, including pre-procedure, the procedure, and post-procedure.

Before Tooth Scaling and Root Planing

Your dentist will perform a comprehensive oral examination of your gums and teeth before you undergo scaling and root planing. The examination involves measuring the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth to determine the severity of your gum disease.

You might also have X-ray images taken to determine how far periodontitis has caused bone loss. After your dentist diagnoses your problem, they will explain the scaling and planing procedure and whether local anesthesia is necessary.

The dentist might ask you to cease taking some medications or antibiotics before the scaling and planing procedure, especially if you suffer from diabetes or have a low immune system. You could feel anxious before the procedure if it is your first time.

What You Should Expect From A Tooth Scaling and Root Planing Treatment

After arriving at the dental clinic, your dentist will ensure you are relaxed. They could do this by numbing the treated area with local anesthesia.

Your dentist will use specially designed tools, such as an ultrasonic scaler and hand tools. These tools carefully remove plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth and below the gum line. Depending on the buildup and the number of teeth, the scaling can take 30 minutes to over an hour.

The root planing part of the treatment starts after scaling. Smoothing the tooth roots helps your gums reattach firmly to the teeth. A smooth surface is necessary to prevent reinfection so that the bacteria cannot stick again in the future.

Your dentist will check in periodically during the treatment to ensure you are comfortable and address any issues. If you have gum disease, you may feel sensitive, but this is only temporary, and your dentist will do what they can to make you comfortable.

After the dentist performs the planing, they will advise on the aftercare, including recommendations for oral hygiene practices and follow-up appointments to monitor your gum health.

What Happens During Tooth Scaling

After you settle into the dental chair, your dentist examines the teeth to identify the extent of the gingivitis or gum disease. They first ensure you are comfortable in the chair, and they administer local anesthesia to numb the area. This prevents pain and discomfort during the treatment.

Using this procedure, the dentist removes plaque and tartar from your teeth and below the gum line. They use an ultrasonic scaler, which vibrates at high frequencies to loosen or dislodge plaque and tartar. The scaler makes a humming sound as it breaks stubborn deposits. The dentist moves the scaler across the teeth' surfaces and concentrates on areas with tartar buildup, such as the back molars and the gum line.

After the scaling step, the dentist uses other instruments to scrape away the remaining tartar. Your dentist will rinse your mouth to remove loose debris and prepare for the next treatment phase.

What Happens During Root Planing?

Next, your dentist performs root planing to ensure plaque does not reattach to the roots in the future. Root planing targets the roots of your teeth, which have become roughened and infected because of plaque and tartar.

The dentist or hygienist scrapes any remaining deposits with a special hand instrument and smooths out the root surfaces. You may feel slight pressure as the instruments move along the roots, but there should be no pain. However, if you feel a little discomfort, you want to notify the dentist so that they can add more local anesthesia.

After root planing, your dentist may rinse your mouth again to remove debris and relieve you. You may notice that your teeth feel smoother.

What Happens After Tooth Scaling and Root Planing?

After undergoing scaling and root planing, you feel relieved because you know you have taken a big step toward healthier gums and teeth. You may have some sensitivity in your teeth and gums to start. This is normal, especially if you have moderate to severe gum disease.

Your dentist may advise briefly avoiding hot or cold foods and beverages. If you experience discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers can help.

In the days following the scaling and planing procedure, you want to maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine. This routine could involve gentle brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and an antibacterial mouthwash to help soothe your gums and keep the mouth clean.

Be on the lookout for changes in your gums. You may see them look healthier, less red, and swollen as the days pass. Your dentist might schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor your progress. During the dental visit, they examine the healing of your gums and determine if any further treatment is needed.

Surgical Treatments For Periodontitis

Periodontitis may require surgical treatment if non-surgical treatments do not work. Your dentist could recommend you undergo surgery if you have had significant gum damage or if your periodontal disease has progressed to a point where your oral health needs a more aggressive approach.

Various types of surgical treatments for periodontitis include:

  1. Flap Surgery

Also called pocket reduction surgery, flap surgery is a common procedure. In this procedure, your dentist uses local anesthesia to numb the area. They then gently lift back the gums to access the underlying bone and roots.

The dentist cleans the roots to remove tartar. They then suture back your gums in place, often snug against the teeth, reducing the depth of gum pockets after you’ve cleaned the area thoroughly to remove bacteria and tartar.

  1. Bone Grafting

If your periodontitis has resulted in significant bone loss around your teeth, this option is especially great for you. To fill the gaps and encourage new bone growth, your dentist may use natural bone from your body, synthetic materials, or donated bone. Bone grafting helps restore structure and allows the regenerated lost tissue to form a better environment for your teeth.

  1. Tissue Regeneration

For a particular case, the dentist could recommend guided tissue regeneration. This technique places a special membrane between your bone and gum tissue, encouraging new bone and tissue growth and preventing gum from growing into the area.

Scaling and Root Planing and Surgery Aftercare

After scaling and root planing or surgery, you want your gums to heal correctly and ensure maximized benefits. You should do certain things days and weeks after the treatment, including:

  1. If you have sensitive teeth, use toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth. These specialized products may help relieve pain while your mouth adjusts to the changes.
  2. You want to hold off on eating and drinking extremely hot or cold foods and drinks for some days, which makes you more sensitive and uncomfortable.
  3. Observe proper oral hygiene practices. After treatment, you will receive specific instructions for caring for your teeth and gums. These instructions include gentle brushing, flossing, and carefully handling the treated areas.
  4. Stick to softer foods for the first few days that do not need a lot of chewing. You can go with yogurt, apple sauce, or smoothies. When you start eating normally again, avoid sticky or crunchy foods since they can irritate sensitive gums or cause foods to be ‘trapped’ in gum pockets.
  5. Your dentist will almost certainly want to see you for a checkup after your scaling and root planing treatment. These visits help examine the gum healing progress and ensure the procedure achieves the desired results.
  6. Be on the lookout for changes in your body. You want to contact your dentist if you experience prolonged pain, swelling, or bleeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you feel pain when undergoing scaling and root planing?

If you are considering scaling and root planing, you may wonder how uncomfortable it is. It is normal to feel apprehensive, but most patients say the experience is manageable. Dentists use local anesthesia to numb the treatment areas, and you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure itself.

Afterward, you might experience sensitivity and muscle aches. This discomfort can range from person to person, but over-the-counter pain relievers help with any lingering sensitivity.

What is the worth of undergoing scaling and root planing?

Scaling and root planing is an investment of both time and money. Your overall health depends on your gums’ health. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to even more severe problems, including tooth loss or even systemic health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The procedure gives a foundation for good oral health. You enjoy a cleaner mouth and better breath. Because of this, the costs you incur about the benefits of treating gum disease are well spent. 

How long does the scaling and root planing procedure take?

Scaling and root planing procedures normally take one to two hours, depending on the extent of your gum disease and the number of teeth involved. However, if your case is complex, you may need many days. Your dentist may recommend splitting the procedure into several appointments.

Does insurance cover scaling and root planing treatment?

You want to consider the financial factor before scheduling your treatment. Most dental insurance plans cover scaling and planing services, but coverage could differ from one provider to another. Therefore, you should contact your insurer for the details.

Discuss the insurance issue with your dentist to learn more about their cost and coverage options. Your dentist could offer you a treatment plan with an estimate of what you could pay out of pocket. Knowing what to expect financially will help you make informed decisions regarding your dental care and care for your gums without undue financial strain.

Can a scaling and root planing treatment cure periodontal disease?

Scaling and root planing effectively remove plaque and tartar that build up below the gum line. The procedure might also halt early signs of periodontitis. However, if gum disease is advanced, you could need a combination of other methods to treat it.

Find a Fullerton Dentist Near Me

Before undergoing scaling and planing, you must have a qualified dentist. Your oral health is important, so only a professional who understands your needs and can help you through treatment should perform it.

At Tayani Dental Group in Fullerton, we are devoted to providing some of the best personalized dental care. We understand that patients have different dental requirements, so we listen and create a complete treatment plan tailored just for you. We will support you from your initial consultation through to post-treatment follow-ups. Our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced staff will treat you in comfortable surroundings.

If you want to schedule your scaling and planing procedure, call our clinic at 949-741-0795.