Find out what deep scaling and root Planing teeth treatment is all about

When you visit the dentist, he or she may suggest that you undergo deep scaling and root planing. This will be carried out in order to clean the teeth of plaque or bacteria that may be building up there.  The normal examination will take place and then the dentist will start with the scaling. Although it will mean that you have let plaque built up, it does not mean that you are not cleaning your teeth, just that there are bits of food and bacteria being missed. For this they will need an ultrasonic device that will carry out the scaling.

Sonic vibrations will be used to remove plaque and bacteria and then goes on to take away calculus – this is what is known to most people as tartar. It will be taken away from both the teeth and below gums level. If there is anything left, they will use a manual instrument to eliminate the remainder. Root planing deals more with protecting the integrity of the gums. The surface of the roots is scaled, and plaque is removed from there as well. If this is done correctly, it will prevent the gums from becoming inflamed as if they do. It will be a sign that they are becoming infected.

Why do you need a deep scaling and rootplaning treatment?

 The main reason is to allow you to have clean and healthy teeth and gums. A lot of people will think that if they clean their teeth twice a day, they are going to prevent themselves from needing either treatment. The reality is that there can be bits of food missed, and before long bacteria will eat away at the gums and they will start to move away from the teeth. The gaps that appear around the tooth will be a magnet for food and normal cleaning will not be able to remove this. Without specialist treatment and cleaning, the problem will just get worse and eventually the tooth will have to be taken out. In worse cases, the jawbone can become infected as well.

The good news is that if you are on top of things and catch the problem early, the dentist should be able to clear up any infection and save the tooth. The concern will be if there is damage formed below the gum line. When this happens and the pocket has become too deep to clean out normally, scaling and root planning is going to be the only way to save the teeth. Your dentist should explain exactly what they are going to do before any of the treatment starts.

Who is more susceptible to needing a scaling and rootplaning?

 It is hard to determine who is most likely to need scaling and root planing treatment. It is almost impossible not to have a small amount of plaque on the teeth even though there are ways to combat it. Even if you clean your teeth well in the morning and before going to bed, there will still be something working against you. Proteins, saliva and bacteria will remain in your mouth and this cannot be stopped. A film will settle across the teeth and will attract sugar and acid that are in the food you eat. As the plaque increases, the teeth can start to decay and even with your best efforts, it may not be possible to get rid of it all.

It is at this stage that the pockets can appear around the tooth. A gap of up to 3mm in fine, but by the time it measures 4mm or more, you are going to need professional help. Even if you are not aware of the seriousness right away, you soon will be as bad breath is one of the side effects. Scaling should be enough to solve the problem, but if it has happened once, you need to be aware that it can happen again and there may have to be a regular session dedicated to getting the teeth back to the condition they should be in. If your dentist tells you that the pockets are now at 4mm or more, then you can be sure that the next thing they tell you is that you need dental scaling.

How do you treat a patient using a scaling and root planing technique?

Deep cleaning will take place in two sections. The scaling requires the dentist to take away all of the plaque – and it is vital that all of it is removed. The tartar – which is plaque that has gone hard – can be above or below the gum line, so the dentist has to check both areas and ensure that they have got the bits that are at the bottom of the pocket.

Next will be the root planing. This is where the tooth root will be smoothed out and it is as a result of this that the gums will lose the pocket that had been created and begin to adhere to the teeth again. Unfortunately, you may have to have a number of visits as it can be uncomfortable to have it all in one session and the dentist does not want you to be distressed or to have to rush the job. To try and make it as easy as possible, they may give you an anesthetic.

What are the symptoms of someone who needs a scaling and root planing?

Your dentist will not carry this out if it is not absolutely necessary. It will be if you are at risk of gum disease or losing any of your teeth. In fact, it tends to be when gum disease has already begun to show signs of taking over your mouth.  To test if this is needed, a few tests will take place. A periodontal probe will be used to check how deep the pockets are. If your periodontal pockets are over the acceptable 3mm, then you will be a candidate for the procedure. There will not be any pain felt while this examination is being carried out and it is a test that most patients should undergo. The probe is not going to hurt, but it will let the dentist see everything they need to see.