Scaling and root planing is a preventive measure used by skilled dentists to treat gum disease. Dentists perform it as a stand-alone treatment or during regular dental checkups and examinations. It entails removing plaque buildup on tooth surfaces, which hardens into tartar and can lead to gum disease. During regular examinations, your dentist can recommend scaling and root planing if they notice signs of gum disease in its early stages. This stops the growth and spreading of the harmful bacteria, protecting your gums and teeth from the harm caused by gum disease.
If you experience sore or swollen gums in Valencia, you could also benefit from this treatment. At SoCal Dental of Valencia, we carefully examine your teeth and gums to recommend the right treatment to prevent or stop gum disease. We will also explain the treatment process to ensure you know what to expect.
Understanding Scaling and Root Planing
Gum disease is one of the most dangerous dental issues, damaging your gums and teeth. It starts mildly as gingivitis and worsens with time. Gum disease is treatable if a dentist diagnoses it early. An experienced dentist can remove the buildup that causes inflammation and encourages the thriving of harmful bacteria, which can eventually affect your gums and lead to an oral infection.
Gum disease is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene. Failure to keep the mouth and teeth clean boosts the growth of dangerous oral bacteria. The bacteria combine with stuck foods and debris in your mouth and between your teeth to produce a very strong acid that builds up on your gums and teeth. The buildup hardens in place and spreads to other parts of your gums and teeth, forming tartar that is difficult to remove with regular brushing and flossing.
Dentists offer scaling and root planing treatments to deep-clean the gums and teeth and remove buildup before it hardens into tartar. The cleaning is non-surgical and an excellent way to prevent gum disease and its devastating effects on your gums and teeth. Since this treatment is also non-invasive, you only need minimal anesthesia for comfort or to prevent pain.
Although scaling and root planing are two separate treatments, they are performed together as one treatment for periodontal disease. The aim is to remove plaque deposits below the gumline before it hardens into inflammation-causing tartar. If left unremoved, the buildup can cause your gum tissues to recede or pull away, exposing more of your teeth. The gum pockets continue to deepen as the harmful bacteria penetrate the gum pockets, weakening your teeth’s support and causing your teeth to become wobbly. When plaque is removed through scaling, your gum tissues reattach to your teeth again.
Thus, scaling is the process of removing the buildup that has begun to deposit on your teeth’s surfaces or below the gumline. The dentist performs scaling targets below the gumline because you cannot reach it with brushing or flossing. The dentist uses a specialized scaling tool to remove the buildup without damaging your soft gum tissues. The tool also includes a spraying system that the dentist uses to apply a microbial agent after scaling to discourage the growth of oral bacteria.
Generally, dentists or dental hygienists use two main types of scaling tools: a hand-held scaler, a currette, and an ultrasonic instrument. The former is manually held as the dentist carefully scrapes off buildup from your teeth, while the latter works electronically. It vibrates as it removes tartar from your teeth’s surfaces. The ultrasonic instrument also has a spray that cleans the tartar after removal, keeping the cleaned surfaces free of harmful bacteria.
On the other hand, root planing entails smoothening the teeth’s roots after scaling to prevent bacteria infestation and promote healing. This happens right after scaling, which explains why the two treatments must happen simultaneously.
Circumstances Under Which Dentists Recommend Scaling and Root Planing
Calculus buildup is very common, especially if you do not carefully practice good oral hygiene habits. Dentists recommend brushing twice daily and flossing daily to remove stuck food particles from teeth and gums, which can encourage the growth of dangerous bacteria. Consuming starchy and sugary foods also promotes the growth of bacteria, which quickly break them down, producing acids that can create a dark film on your teeth and gums. If this continues for a while, the dark film can attach to your teeth and harden in place. This is what causes inflammation of your gums and eventually oral infections.
Before all this happens, and your teeth and gums are healthy, your teeth attach very well to your gum tissues. They are usually stable and strong. However, once the buildup starts developing, ur gum tissues start pulling away from the teeth. The connection between your teeth and gums weakens, causing your teeth to become unstable, wobbly, and begin falling out. As the bacteria penetrate deeper into the gum pockets, your teeth’s roots become exposed. This also leads to other conditions, like halitosis and oral infections.
Before recommending scaling and root planing, your dentist must diagnose you with periodontal disease. The disease can be in its early or intermediate stages. Dentists first conduct a physical examination to determine how much the disease has spread to your gums and teeth. They then use diagnostic tools like X-rays to determine how far the disease has spread to the teeth’s underlying structures. If the dentist finds out that your gums are already inflamed and there are signs of buildup on your teeth or below the gumline, they can recommend scaling to remove the buildup and root planing to smooth your teeth’s surfaces.
Note that scaling and root planing works effective for mild to moderate gum disease. If the disease is already advanced, a more extensive treatment is needed to manage the infection, prevent further spread of the harmful bacteria, and prevent tooth loss.
Here are the circumstances under which your dentist will recommend scaling and root planing:
- If your gums already feel sensitive (a common symptom of gingivitis)
- If your gums appear swollen or reddish
- If your gums easily bleed when you brush or eat
- If you experience pain in or around your teeth
- If you experience pain when brushing or flossing
- If you notice gum recession, or your teeth appear longer than they usually are
- If your gums appear discolored
- If you have a persistent bad odor, regardless of how much you brush and floss
Your dentist can diagnose you if you visit their office because you are worried about one or more of these symptoms, or during a regular visit. After a thorough examination of your teeth and gums, a competent dentist can tell how advanced the disease is. If it is at a reasonable stage where scaling and root planing can work, they will recommend treating it immediately. Since this is a quick, non-invasive treatment, you can stop the disease immediately after diagnosis.
Factors that Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease
Some people have a higher risk of gum disease than others. People with a higher risk are likely to undergo scaling and root planing than those with a lower risk. Understanding some of the factors that increase your risk can help you protect yourself or reduce it. Remember that gum disease is a serious condition that can lead to tooth loss and oral infections. Treating it early protects your oral and general health.
Here are some of the reasons your risk of gum disease is high:
- You regularly consume sugary and starchy foods and beverages
- You are a long-term consumer of tobacco and its related products, whether through chewing or smoking
- You do not maintain good oral hygiene habits as recommended by dentists
- You come from a family of people who are more susceptible to gum disease
- Your teeth are crowded, overly spaced out, or misaligned, which creates perfect conditions for the growth of harmful bacteria
- You suffer from prolonged stress, which lowers your immune system and increases your risk of inflammation
- You have an underlying health condition, like blood pressure, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, seizures, or bacterial pneumonia, which lowers your immune system and increases your risk of inflammation
If any of these factors apply to you, it is advisable to visit your dentist immediately after nothing changes in your mouth or gums. Since gum disease generally starts mildly, you should not ignore any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above. This is because the disease can quickly spread and advance before you seek treatment. Fortunately, with scaling and root planing, your dentist can stop the disease before it affects your gum tissues, teeth, and your general well-being.
The Treatment Process
Like most dental treatments, scaling and root planing happen after an in-depth examination of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. The dentist must first determine the cause of your symptoms and the severity of the disease for proper treatment recommendations. They will recommend scaling and root planing after assessing the condition of your gums, the extent of the buildup, the depth of your gum pockets, and the extent of the disease. If the disease is at an early or intermediate stage, scaling and root planing can prevent it from progressing further.
After recommending scalinga n root planing and explaining what it entails, your dentist will give you a moment to decide before developing a treatment plan. The procedure can be performed on the same day as the diagnosis or may require several additional visits to your dentist’s office, depending on the extent of the treatment site. For example, if more of your teeth are affected, the dentist may need more time to scale off the buildup on all of them. In this case, you may need an additional one or two days to complete the treatment.
Here are the steps your dentist can include in the treatment plan:
Administration of Anesthesia
The scaling and root planing processes can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, especially if there's more buildup to scale off your teeth. In this case, the dentist will first administer local anesthesia to numb the gum area. If they need to work on all or most of your teeth, the dentist will numb one area at a time rather than the entire mouth. This will keep you comfortable and still throughout the cleaning process, allowing the dentist to remove all buildup from your teeth and gums with minimal interruptions.
The Scaling Process
Once the treatment site is numb, the dentist will begin scaling the buildup off the affected teeth. They can use a scaler or curette to manually remove the buildup and any debris or stuck foods from your gum pockets. The tools are especially designed for this purpose. Therefore, they can easily fit between your teeth and gums without damaging your soft tissues. The dentist can also use an electronic ultrasonic scaler to make the work easier and faster. Since this is usually electric, it can remove even the most stubborn buildup.
Generally, dentists divide the treatment sites into quadrants. They can start with the lower right part of your mouth, and move to the lower left, then the upper right, and finally the upper left. That is why it may take two or more appointments to complete the cleaning. Your dentist can handle the first quadrant and allow it to heal before treating the second quadrant, and so forth.
Root Planing
This is done simultaneously with scaling to smooth the tooth roots. It prevents harmful bacteria from attaching to the already scaled teeth, which could encourage the spreading of gum disease. Root planing is the final step after scaling to ensure all buildup is removed and will not happen again anytime soon.
The Follow-Up
Once all treatment areas are completed, you will return to the dentist’s office for a review. Once there, the dentist assesses the treatment's effectiveness to ensure that all buildup is removed and that your gums are free of gum disease. They will advise you on how to care for your treated teeth and gums to encourage the gum tissues to reattach to the teeth again. Your dentist will also remind you to maintain good oral hygiene habits and to choose the right foods to help discourage the growth of dangerous oral bacteria. This will prevent further buildup soon after treatment.
The Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing
There are several reasons you should agree to scaling and root planing to stop gum disease. The most important reasons include the following:
To Protect Your Teeth
The buildup that causes gum disease puts your teeth at risk of cavities. Cavities and gum disease are also among the leading causes of tooth loss. Scaling, which entails removing the buildup before it spreads further, protects your teeth from cavities and tooth loss caused by advanced gum disease. Root planing also protects your teeth from further buildup after treatment. After treatment, your teeth reattach firmly to your gum tissues, making them strong and stable.
To Improve Bad Breath
The growth of harmful oral bacteria can cause persistent bad breath despite regular brushing and flossing. This situation can affect your confidence. It may also affect your taste buds, making it difficult for you to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages. Removing the buildup through scaling and root planing restores your healthy breath and your confidence to socialize.
To Improve Your Aesthetics
Buildup on your teeth, especially along the gumline, can affect their appearance and your smile. This worsening occurs as gum disease spreads to other parts of the mouth. Scaling and root planing remove buildup and stains from your teeth, significantly improving your aesthetics and smile.
To Improve Your Oral Health
Your oral health is determined by the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. Anything that affects your gums or teeth impacts your oral health and can eventually affect your overall health. Preventing the spread of gum disease through scaling and root planing improves your oral and general health. Eventually, your teeth reattach firmly to your gum tissues, as they should. This protects your teeth from becoming weak or falling out, which can happen as gum disease advances. This also protects you from oral infections, which can quickly spread throughout your body via the bloodstream.
Remember that scaling and root planing are preventive procedures against periodontitis. When performed well, you can enjoy good oral and general health for a very long time.
Find a Scaling and Root Planing Expert Near Me
Do you or someone you know experience signs of gum disease in Valencia?
Gum disease is a serious oral condition that starts mildly and progresses over time, affecting the health of your gums, teeth, and jawbone, and your overall well-being. Fortunately, it can be diagnosed and treated before it advances significantly.
At SoCal Dental of Valencia, we recommend regular dental visits, during which we can diagnose gum disease at its early stages. Then, we can perform scaling and root planing to stop it from spreading further. We have all the information about these preventive treatments that could help you understand the benefits and the treatment process for informed decision-making. Call us at 661-554-4545 for further information.