Scaling and root planing are used to deep clean the areas below your gums. When you have gum disease, these pockets become hiding places for bacteria, plaque and calculus. It is critical that your dentist remove these items so your teeth and gums can be restored to the healthier state that existed prior to the damage cause by gum disease.
At your scaling and root planing appointment, the area in which we will work will be numbed. After the numbing agent has taken effect, we will use lasers to start to clean the gums. Any decayed gum tissues will be removed, and all the soft tissues will be cleaned and sanitized.
The tooth root will then be carefully stripped of any deposits of plaque or minerals that have built-up. A laser will be used to complete this process. The laser is specially designed so that you will not need cuts or stitches; in fact, the laser will help the site begin to heal as soon as the gum disease treatment procedure is finished.
It is typical for patients at Belle Meade Family Dentistry who receive scaling and root planing to be asked to apply a topical gel to the site at regular intervals. This gel will assist in keeping the area free from bacteria, promoting better protection for the teeth and gums. Scaling and root planing will be necessary as part of your personalized dental plan, and may be partially or fully covered depending upon your insurance.