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What Is Scaling & Root Planing?

To put it simply, cleaning the gum tissues thoroughly is what scaling and root planing is. Removing accumulated tartar or calculus above and below the gumline is a frequent non-surgical therapy for gum disease. It may slow the spread of periodontal disease as well which is highly beneficial to patients.

While root planing smoothes the tooth roots, scaling just eliminates accumulated calculus. It lessens the depth of the gingival pocket by assisting the gums in reattaching to the teeth.

Who Needs Root Planing & Scaling?

If you exhibit symptoms of gum disease, your dentist will probably advise a thorough cleaning. These consist of:

  • A tartar deposit that is clearly visible across your teeth and gums and may be white, yellow, or brown.
  • Red and swollen gums.
  • Easy bleeding gums.
  • Explicit dental roots exposed by receded gums, which give the impression of longer teeth.
  • Ongoing foul breath.

What Takes Place During Root Planing & Scaling?

In order to treat gum disease, the two independent procedures of scaling and root planing are combined:

  1. The removal of accumulated tartar from your teeth and gums is known as periodontal scaling.
  2. Root planing smooths off the root surfaces of your teeth, preventing plaque and calculus from re-forming on them.

A complete mouth scaling and root planing may also cause some discomfort when it is finished which is why we offer our patients pain management in order to control those symptoms.  

In order to guarantee that all elements of gum disease, including the removal of tartar and plaque, are addressed, a complete cleaning takes several appointments. A cleaning that is less comprehensive may need less time, but the results will not be as satisfactory.

Recovery And Aftercare After Scaling & Root Planing

After scaling, you could notice some bleeding for the first several days, but it should stop eventually. Your dentist will assess gum healing and confirm a reduction in the size of periodontal pockets at a subsequent consultation. Additional treatment could be advised if pockets larger than 3 mm are still visible after the first course of action.

To stop periodontal disease from becoming a more severe and/or chronic illness that could need surgery, it is crucial to maintain proper oral hygiene habits and ongoing, long-term follow-up by your dental specialists.

As long as you follow the criteria and recommendations given to you by your dentist, you should have a smooth and trouble-free recovery following your procedure and be able to recover correctly without any problems.

How You Can Handle Painful Gums

Learn More About Scaling & Root Planing In Pasadena

If you’ve been experiencing troubles with your gums or have been worried about possible disease, contact our experts for an appointment. If needed our experts will recommend scaling and root planing as an effective treatment option for you.

Reach out to our experts by giving us a call or filling out a contact form.

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