Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum line that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. The three stages of gum disease — from least to most severe — are gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis.
Signs & Symptoms:
Gum disease can be painless, so it is important to be aware of any of the following symptoms:
- Swollen, red, tender or bleeding gums
- Gums that recede or move away from the tooth
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste in mouth
- Loose teeth
- Visible pus surrounding the teeth and gums
If you clean your teeth every six months or so, you know that a routine professional cleaning involves scaling teeth and the gumline to remove plaque and tartar, and polishing to remove stains and smooth the tooth’s surface. This is done to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you have symptoms of gum disease, however, you may need another type of cleaning, called scaling and root planing.
When Is Scaling and Root Planing Recommended?
Although routine cleanings are done to prevent periodontal (gum) disease, scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure done to treat periodontal disease. In fact, this procedure – sometimes called a deep cleaning – is considered the “gold standard” of treatment for patients with chronic periodontitis, as stated in the Journal of Evidenced-Based Dental Practice.
Healthy gum tissue fits tightly around each tooth, and the McCarl Dental Group suggests the measurement from the top of the gumline to where it attaches to the tooth should only be 1 to 3 millimeters in depth. But, when bacterial plaque and tartar accumulate around and under the gums, tissues that support your teeth may be affected and periodontal disease can develop causing deeper pockets to form.
When you have more advanced signs of gum disease (bad breath, heavy tartar buildup and unhealthy pocket depths of 4mm or more), We may recommend scaling and root planing as the first procedure necessary to treat the condition.
Like a Splinter From a Finger
Scaling and root planing teeth may take more than one appointment to complete, and a local anesthetic is often used to minimize any discomfort. Scaling and root planing is compared to having an irritating splinter removed from an infected finger. The procedure involves thoroughly scaling all plaque, bacterial toxins and tartar deposits from your teeth and root surfaces; and then root planing, which smoothes all rough areas on your roots’ surfaces. Smooth root surfaces keep bacteria, plaque and tartar from re-adhering underneath the gumline, allowing your gums to heal and reattach themselves more firmly.
After the Procedure
At a follow-up visit, we will check on the healing of your gums and the status of your pockets. The good news is that in most cases, red or swollen gum tissue becomes firm and pink again, bleeding is reduced or eliminated and pockets get smaller. If your gum tissue has responded well and remains stable, you may not need any further treatment.
More advanced periodontal conditions, on the other hand, may require surgical interventions by a periodontist after root planing and scaling to stop the progression of bone loss. However, your scaling and root planing treatment often lessens the amount of surgery you need.
Periodontal Maintenance
After periodontal treatment, whether it’s surgical or nonsurgical, we may want to put you on a schedule of maintenance visits every two to four months. These maintenance visits consist of routine cleanings and the careful examination of your gum tissue, as well as measurements of your pocket depths and to measure gum recession.
Oral Care for Prevention
Periodontal disease can sneak up on you without warning, and the American Dental Association (ADA) Mouth Healthy site urges you to follow through with regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations. A good home care routine is key in preventing gum disease from starting and keeping your mouth healthy after any type of oral treatment. Here’s what you need to do:
- Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Replace your toothbrush when the bristles are worn.
- Floss daily to clean between your teeth and bridge work, crowns or implants.
- Use an antimicrobial mouthwash
- Don’t smoke! Or if you are a smoker, please try to stop smoking to make your body healthier.
Whether you call it deep cleaning, or root planing and scaling teeth, this conservative procedure plays a critical role in treating periodontal disease. So, if we recommend scaling and root planing for you, rest assured it’ll put you on the road to good periodontal health.