Scaling and Root Planing

Our dentists at Eastgate Dental Excellence recommend visiting our office every six months for a professional teeth cleaning and examination. When you go a long time without proper dental care at home or in the dentist’s chair, your teeth and gums are at risk of developing infections like periodontal disease and other health problems.

Left long enough, more extensive treatments, like scaling and root planing, are needed to address the issues at hand and restore your oral health.

What Are Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing are two dental treatments commonly used to combat periodontal disease in patients whose cases have progressed past the point of being able to be successfully treated with a routine dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene.

Scaling uses special tools to remove any hardened plaque, tartar, and calculus built up on the teeth along and below your gum line. Scaling also removes calculus from both the surfaces of the teeth and their roots. Additionally, scaling ensures the removal of infected or diseased gum tissue and dentin.

Root planing is the process of smoothing the surfaces of each tooth’s roots to discourage the future buildup of tartar and plaque. Root planing also makes it more difficult for bacteria to stick to the surfaces, preventing future infection.

When Are Scaling and Root Planing Needed?

Scaling and root planing treatments are most commonly recommended for patients with advanced periodontal disease (periodontitis). When this bacterial infection of the gums has spread below the gum line into the roots of the teeth, scaling and root planing are necessary to prevent further damage, like tooth loss and jawbone deterioration, as a result of periodontal disease.

What to Expect During a Scaling and Root Planing Appointment

In addition to providing high-quality care, our team prioritizes creating a positive patient experience. Scaling and root planing can be performed painlessly using local anesthetics. The procedure can also be separated into multiple appointments if desired.

Additionally, we offer a variety of sedation dentistry treatment options designed to help you relax in the dental chair.
If you have any concerns about an upcoming scaling and root planing appointment, we welcome you to contact our office to discuss your treatment options with one of our knowledgeable team members.

Prevent Periodontal Disease With Preventive Dental Care

While we offer a variety of treatments and therapies designed to help patients recover from periodontal disease and restore the health of their teeth and gums, our dentists at Eastgate Dental Excellence prefer to help patients prevent serious oral health problems before they occur.

We provide a comprehensive list of preventive dentistry treatments designed to keep our patients’ smiles healthy while providing education on how best to care for your teeth at home in between professional dental cleanings and checkups.

To learn more about preventive dentistry or periodontal disease treatments like scaling and root planing, we welcome you to contact Eastgate Dental Excellence today.