Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a method of treating gum disease when pockets are formed around the teeth and have a measurement of greater than 4 or 5mm. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the hygienist or dentist meticulously removes contaminated toxins, micro-organisms, plaque, tartar/calculus, cementum, dentin that is rough and/or permeated by calculus from around, below and under the gum line down to the bottom of the pocket to promote a healing response from the patient. Root planing involves smoothing the root surfaces of your teeth with thin curettes so gum tissue can more firmly reattach to roots that are clean and smooth to prevent tooth loss and sensitivity problems. The procedure makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.

Because this procedure goes deeper than a regular cleaning and removes active infection, your mouth is most often anesthetized (numbed) for patient comfort. Depending on the severity of the disease you may need one or more sections (quadrants) of the mouth to be treated with scaling and root planing, which may require multiple visits. Scaling and Root Planing visits do vary on the severity of the disease but often times visits are scheduled for 1.5 hours.