Scaling and root planing are critical processes during deep dental cleaning. They remove tartar buildup and bacteria from the teeth and gums to protect you from cavities and gum disease. A general dentist or periodontist can do a dental cleaning. They safely use specialized tools to remove any buildup or debris that could encourage the growth of harmful bacteria around your teeth and gums. The process can also work if you have mild or moderate periodontitis, helping prevent the continual buildup of bacteria.
Thus, you can have them included in your routine dental cleaning, or you can be diagnosed with gum disease. They can help with your bleeding and sore gums and help protect you from losing your teeth. These processes also improve your oral and general health. A skilled dentist can explain the cleaning process, its benefits, and associated risks to help you make an informed decision.
An Overview of Scaling and Root Planing
Dentists recommend brushing and flossing daily to remove food and debris that encourages the growth of harmful bacteria. If this is not done, or not done properly, harmful oral bacteria can combine with the stuck foods in the mouth and release a strong acid that causes buildup on teeth and gums. This buildup, which starts mildly and escalates with time, encourages bacterial attack on your teeth and gums. The strong acid weakens the enamel, putting your teeth at risk of cavities. The presence of harmful bacteria in your gums causes gum inflammation, which starts mildly as gingivitis and can escalate into gum disease.
In addition to brushing and flossing daily, dentists encourage regular dental cleaning to remove any stuck foods and debris from the teeth and gums that could lead to the growth of this bacteria. Professional teeth cleaning can happen every time you visit your dentist for regular dental checkups and examinations. The dentist may include scaling and root planing if you have buildup on your teeth and gums, or already have gum disease. Scaling and root planing help remove the buildup to discourage the growth of harmful bacteria. This stops the buildup of gum disease and prevents the continual thriving of the bacteria.
Dentists use scaling and root planing to refer to deep teeth cleaning. Teeth cleaning is done regularly to remove food particles and debris that you cannot effectively remove with regular brushing and flossing. However, scaling and root planing can be done periodically or when there is a need to remove buildup. This is because these processes involve penetrating deeper beneath the gums to remove buildup or periodontitis-causing bacteria. In this case, dentists recommend it for people at high risk or who already have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is an infection that mainly affects the gums. It starts with gingivitis, or inflammation of the soft gum tissues, and penetrates deep into the gum pockets if left untreated. It begins with a buildup of harmful bacteria on the gums, which encourages them to penetrate the gum pockets and reach the roots of your teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause a severe infection that spreads to your entire body. It can also weaken your teeth’s supporting systems, causing you to lose your natural teeth eventually.
Thus, if you notice redness or bleeding on your gums, you may have gingivitis. It is essential to have it checked immediately for treatment before the condition escalates to the point where your teeth become wobbly and start falling out. With root planing, a dentist can smooth the roots of your teeth and remove tartar and plaque that have accumulated below your gumline. Both processes remove harmful bacteria from your teeth, improving your oral and overall health.
Remember that a general dentist, a periodontist, or a dental hygienist can perform these processes. They are nonsurgical treatments that do not require extensive preparation.
Scaling and Root Planing Treatment Details
If you visit your dentist with mild gum disease symptoms or are diagnosed with gum disease during a regular visit, they may recommend scaling and root planing. These treatments can be included in your treatment plan. The dentist will explain the treatment process to prepare you for what to expect.
The dentist will start with assessing the buildup and extent of gum disease through a simple physical examination. They could request an X-ray to determine the extent of the disease beneath the gums. Once they know exactly what they are dealing with, the dentist will administer local anesthesia to keep you comfortable and pain-free during the procedure.
The dentist will start with scaling, which entails removing calculus, tartar, and bacteria from your teeth, below the gum line, and in the gum pockets. They could use specialized ultrasonic cleaners or manual hand instruments for this process. The dentist will carefully work around your teeth and gums to avoid bruising your soft tissues.
Then, the dentist will perform root planing, which involves smoothing the tooth roots to remove any infected structures and rough spots. This process is critical to ensuring you do not experience further bacterial buildup after the deep cleaning. It also promotes healing of the soft tissues after scaling and ensures that the gum pockets reattach successfully.
Finally, the dentist will flush the gum pockets with an antimicrobial agent to remove any debris that may have remained around your teeth, gums, and tooth roots. Sometimes they use antibiotic fibers or gels, which they place in the gum pockets for enhanced healing. Other times, dentists inject antibiotics around the tooth roots or prescribe an oral antibiotic to promote healing after the procedure.
The entire cleaning process could take about two hours. However, the exact time depends on how much buildup the dentist needs to remove from your teeth, gums, and roots. However, this procedure only takes one day. Therefore, you only need one appointment with your dentist for scaling and root planing. Once the procedure is complete, you can maintain your teeth and gums clean and healthy through daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular professional cleaning. You may not need another deep cleaning after that, unless you are more prone to gum disease.
The Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing
A deep dental cleaning offers several benefits that you should be aware of. Your dentist will ensure you understand these benefits before starting the procedure for effective decision-making. Some of the exceptional benefits include:
It Can Heal Halitosis
Bad breath is one of the serious oral issues that affects your smile and confidence. It may make socializing impossible, especially if it becomes apparent and everyone avoids getting close to you. Halitosis is mainly caused by harmful bacteria in the mouth. This could be a sign that your teeth and gums need a deep cleaning to remove the buildup that is causing the bad breath. Scaling and root planing remove buildup and traces of harmful bacteria from your gum pockets. In addition to stopping the already developing gum disease, these procedures can heal your halitosis.
It Improves Oral and General Health
Harmful bacteria in your mouth can cause more harm to your teeth and gums. It can also travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. In addition to causing periodontitis, harmful bacteria can also cause cavities and oral infections. This will affect your teeth’s functionality and appearance, as well as your general health. Scaling and root planing entails removing harmful bacteria from your teeth, gums, and roots to discourage them from spreading. It also prevents bacteria from causing damage in your mouth and throughout your body. Thus, removing the bacteria from your mouth is an excellent way to improve your general health.
It Prevents Gum Recession and Tooth Loss
Your natural teeth are anchored in place by strong and healthy structures beneath the gums. Sadly, harmful bacteria can weaken the structures, putting you at risk of tooth loss. The bacteria, which cause gum disease, cause gum recession, whereby your gum pulls away from the teeth, leaving your tooth roots exposed. As the bacteria penetrate beneath the gums, the tissues holding your teeth strong become weak, and your teeth become wobbly.
Removing this harmful bacteria through scaling and root planing protects you from severe gum recession, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. When your teeth are no longer held in place, they are more likely to fall out. This is usually likely if gum disease is not treated in time.
It Reduces Your Risk of Advanced Periodontitis
Scaling and root planing are usually done during the first stages of gum disease. Dentists recommend visiting your dentist immediately if you notice bleeding or redness in your gums. If you delay treatment, periodontal disease can advance very quickly, causing more damage to your teeth. If scaling and root planing are done in time, you can stop gum disease before it affects you more.
Advanced periodontitis is usually the final, most severe stage of the disease. It is characterized mainly by the destruction of your teeth’s connective tissues and significant loss of the bone supporting your teeth. You should seek treatment before the harmful bacteria have a chance to grow and spread.
The Risks and Complications of Deep Dental Cleaning
Many people who have done scaling and root planing have enjoyed excellent results. Complications with these procedures are rare, especially if you choose an experienced dentist. However, your dentist will discuss risk factors before starting treatment. This will ensure you are well prepared for what they eventually show:
Bleeding Risk
Bleeding can happen during deep dental cleaning. Remember that the dentist will use some tools or instruments on the soft tissues in your mouth. This can cause bruising, which may lead to bleeding. Additionally, if you already have gum disease, your gums are also very sensitive. This may trigger more bleeding during treatment. However, this should not persist after treatment or exceed the normal range. If you bleed excessively or continue bleeding for days after treatment, you should contact your dentist immediately.
Continued Gum Recession
Generally, gum recession happens when harmful bacteria penetrate your gum pockets. As bacteria grow and spread, they penetrate deep into your gum pockets, creating a significant gap between your gums and teeth. This should stop after scaling and root planing, since the harmful bacteria are entirely removed from your gum pockets. Your gum pocket should return to its original state, and your gums should shrink back if they were initially swollen.
If this does not happen, speak to your dentist immediately. If you notice that your gums have not changed after the procedure, let your dentist know. It could be that the procedure was not successful.
Oral Infection
Remember that an oral infection can occur after scaling and root planing, especially if your mouth’s soft tissues were bruised. When this happens, you should experience pain, fever, or chills. Dentists may recommend antibiotics, which can be injected or placed at the treatment site to prevent infection. Your dentist can also issue or prescribe oral antibiotics, which you will take for a few days after the procedure.
If you experience infection-like symptoms a few days after treatment, go back to your dentist’s office for immediate treatment.
Teeth Sensitivity
Root scaling can result in tooth sensitivity. This may affect how comfortable you are when eating, especially if the food or drink is hot or cold. However, the sensitivity should clear after a few days. If it persists, visit your dentist’s office.
Find Competent Dental Services Near Me
Gum disease is a severe infection that can affect all people. However, it can be stopped if diagnosed on time. Dentists recommend scaling and root planing when the disease is in its early stages to remove the buildup and bacteria before it penetrates further into your gum pockets. If you have the symptoms of gum disease in Encino, such as bleeding or reddish gums, visit us at Lasting Impressions Dental Spa.
Our experienced dentist will diagnose, recommend treatment, and develop a plan to stop the disease for good. We will also ensure you understand what the treatment entails, its benefits, and risk factors. Call us at 818-751-5100 to discuss your dental care needs and our services.
