Root planing and scaling: When is it recommended?

Periodontal disease can cause serious problems, and if you have been diagnosed with this condition, it’s important to seek treatment from Dr. John M. Hucklebridge, your dentist serving Plano TX 75093, as early as possible.

One method your dentist will use to treat periodontal disease is root planing and scaling. This non-invasive procedure removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the teeth and the roots, clearing away the bacteria that cause the inflammation associated with gum disease.

Rough tooth roots, which allow bacteria to collect under the gums, also are smoothed down, providing a less hospitable environment for those bacteria. Your dentist may also refer to root planing and scaling as a deep cleaning.

Root planing and scaling is appropriate for patients with pockets in their gum tissue. Those pockets develop as plaque and bacteria collect along the gumline and attack the tissue. The root planing and scaling intervention, which may be accompanied by a topical antibiotic treatment, helps to reduce the size of those pockets.

After a root planing and scaling procedure, patients should plan to visit the dentist regularly for maintenance treatments. Those patients may be able to avoid a progression of their periodontal disease that might require surgery. Depending on the extent of your case, your dentist may recommend follow-up cleanings every three months rather than every six, which is the standard interval.

Getting treatment for periodontal disease helps to preserve your oral health. When left unchecked, periodontal disease can cause gums to recede and eventually lead to the loss of tooth and bone.

Controlling periodontal disease isn’t just about achieving optimal oral health, though. Periodontal disease has been connected to several systemic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, so root planing and scaling is actually helping to boost a patient’s overall health.

Get your gums checked on a regular basis, and when your dentist identifies a problem, schedule an appointment for treatment like root planing and scaling so that you won’t have to face surgery later.