What is Scale & Root Planing?
When you have serious plaque buildup and it is threatening the overall health of your gums, the dentist may recommend dental scaling in savage mn as treatment. Dental scaling is a much deeper cleaning. During your twice yearly visits to the dentist, your teeth experience a standard cleaning of the surface area of the tooth. Scaling reaches below the gum line to remove plaque build up, bacteria and inflammation.
When Is Dental Scaling Necessary?
Because everyone experiences plaque buildup, regular dental appointments are important to maintain good oral health. Plaque starts as combination of a saliva, protein and bacteria film which grows thicker from small food particles, acid and sugar. This plaque offers a nice home for the bacteria to live and grow, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. When you brush and floss at home you break up the plaque and regular dental cleanings remove buildup that is too resilient to at home care.
When you do not have plaque and bacteria in your mouth, your gums have a better opportunity to remain healthy, free from infection and inflammation. Your gums will sit closely to your teeth and prevent plaque and bacteria from traveling below the gumline. Once the gums start to suffer, they start to loosen and develop pockets. Plaque and bacteria find these deep pockets to be perfect homes causing bad breath, worse gum disease and serious tooth decay.
Dentists measure the pockets from the gumline to where the gum attaches to the tooth. A healthy tooth and gum have a pocket of 1 to 3 millimeters in depth. Once the pocket reaches 4 or more millimeters, dentists will recommend treatment to stop further progress of the gum disease. Dental scaling removes the plaque from below the gumline, allowing the gum to return to a healthier state.
Scaling and Root Planing Procedures
If your dentist has suggested dental scaling to treat your gum disease, the dentist plans on removing plaque and bacteria from the tooth’s surface below the gumline. The dentist will use one of two methods to arrest your gum disease.
The dentist can perform the procedure by hand with metal tools called a dental scaler and curette. Or the dentist pay prefer to use an ultrasonic instrument to breakup and remove the plaque. Both the tools and the vibration will achieve the same results leaving you with a healthier smile.
Once the dentist completes your dental scaling, the root planing procedure can begin. The surface of the tooth’s root is cleaned and smoothed so the gum can reattach easily and heal.
What Does Scaling Feel Like?
Once your dentist is concerned about your gums to suggest dental scaling and root planing or a deep cleaning, chances are you are probably already suffering from your gum disease. Dental scaling may not be the most comfortable procedure you have at the dentist’s office, but it will be more comfortable than having a tooth removed or a root canal. If you know that you have sensitive gums, be sure to talk to your dentist about your pain management options. The dentist can offer injections to numb your gum tissue or the dentist can work on your mouth in two of four sessions. You and your dentist can work on the best plan for you and the health of your gums.
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