Scaling and root planing is a treatment that can help you fight gum disease once it has set in. It can help you clean out the plaque and the tartar that is affecting your gums and causing the disease.
What typically happens with gum disease is that the gums pull away from your teeth. When this happens, plaque and tartar can work their way down under the gum line, and can even gather on your tooth roots.
Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly can help you keep your gums healthy so you can prevent this from happening. However, when it gets to this stage, a little more potent cleaning method may be needed.
In order to remove the bad guys from under the gums, our dentist, Dr. Oliver Wong, may recommend the scaling and root planing treatment. This generally comes in two parts. The dentist uses specialized tools to clean out or scale the plaque and tartar from your teeth and their roots.
Planing is the second part, and it involves smoothing out the surfaces of the tooth roots. Plaque and tartar can have a more difficult time sticking to the smoothed-out surfaces, which can give your gums more time and opportunity to heal.
We also help you remain comfortable by applying a local anesthetic to the areas that will be treated. Any discomfort should be numbed while we take care of your teeth and gums, so you can rest easy.
If you would like help with preventing or treating gum disease, we can provide that help here at Johnson Ranch Dental in Roseville, California. You can reach out to us by calling 916-784-1700. We will do all we can to help your teeth and gums remain in excellent health!