Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure designed to treat chronic periodontitis. Unlike a standard cleaning, this treatment goes deep beneath the gum line to remove plaque and tartar from the roots of the teeth. The goal is to eliminate the source of infection and inflammation, providing a clean surface that allows the gums to heal and reattach to the teeth.
The procedure is typically divided into two parts. First, scaling involves the removal of tartar from the tooth surfaces above and below the gum line. Second, root planing involves smoothing out the rough spots on the tooth roots. Smooth root surfaces make it much harder for bacteria to adhere in the future and help the gum tissue to shrink and tighten around the tooth.
Because this treatment involves working deep within the gum pockets, your dentist may use a local anaesthetic to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the process. Depending on the extent of the gum disease, the procedure might be completed in a single visit or split into multiple appointments, focusing on one quadrant of the mouth at a time to manage sensitivity.
After the procedure, you may experience some mild tenderness or sensitivity to hot and cold for a few days. Maintaining excellent home care is crucial following this treatment to ensure the infection does not return. A registered dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment to measure the depth of your gum pockets and confirm that the tissues are healing as expected.