Root Scaling and Planing: How a Deep Cleaning Treats Gum Disease

Keeping up with your regular dental hygiene regimen at home is essential for optimal oral health. However, deep cleaning is also important. Read on to find out how it helps.

We do plenty to keep our teeth and gums healthy, including brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash. Just doing these daily tasks can reduce your risks of halitosis (bad breath), gum disease, and cavities.

Dental visits are also a vital part of your dental care, including deep cleanings. Let's discuss the process to better understand why this treatment is so important.

Residents of Richmond Hill, Georgia, looking for deep cleanings can find help with Dr. Nils Anderson and our staff at Village Dental.

What is dental deep cleaning?

Brushing and flossing remove harmful plaque from your teeth — the sticky film that turns into hardened tartar. The problem is that these processes can’t get all of it. Deep cleanings do the job more effectively by cleaning not just where you can see but also below the gumline.

There are two parts to the process, tooth scaling and root planing.

Tooth scaling removes tartar and other hardened material from teeth above the gumline, and root planing removes harmful material under the gumline.

After it’s finished, any swelling and tenderness in your gums can be managed by avoiding hot or cold food or drinks, eating soft foods, taking pain relievers and antibiotics if our team recommends, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse.

How does it help?

Removing plaque and tartar from teeth prevents and manages gum disease.

Tooth scaling is done using a vibrating tool. Root planing moves the gum tissue gently to remove tartar buildup under the gumline, helping the gums reattach to the teeth. Together, these procedures reduce the risks of dental problems and gum disease.

Most deep cleanings take 1-2 hours if your teeth are relatively healthy. If you have significant gum disease, it might take multiple sessions in the dental chair.

When should I schedule my appointment?

Schedule a deep cleaning twice annually unless we tell you that you need it more often. If you are experiencing persistent bad breath, receding gums, shifting teeth, changes in your bite, painful chewing, areas of visible tooth root, and sensitivity around the gumline, call us immediately.

Caring for your teeth means seeing our team regularly for checkups and cleanings. If you’re ready to check on your dental health, make an appointment with Dr. Anderson and Village Dental today. Our team is ready to help, so if you have any questions about root scaling and planing, just give our office a call.