Scaling & Root Planing
Taking proper care of your mouth is essential for maintaining good oral health. It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. It is also recommended that you have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined at least twice a year. Skipping any of these steps increases your risk of developing oral health issues, including gum disease. If gum disease does happen, Sussex Dental can provide treatment with scaling and root planing.
What Is Gum Disease?Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an oral health issue that affects your gums, your jawbone, and your teeth. It can even impact your overall health as well. Gum disease starts with a buildup of plaque and bacteria, both of which irritate your sensitive gum tissue. This irritation triggers an immune response, and your gums begin to swell. These early symptoms are often difficult to detect. If they go untreated, the gums continue to swell and begin to pull away from your teeth. Bacteria fall below the gum line and begin attacking your periodontal ligaments and jawbone. Over time, the gums recede, and the bone weakens. Your teeth become loose and can eventually fall out.
An Effective Deep Cleaning for Your TeethScaling and root planing is a common treatment for gum disease. It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical deep cleaning of your teeth that are designed to eliminate all buildup from all surfaces of your teeth, including below the gum line. While non-surgical, scaling and root planing is typically done under a local anesthetic. Your swollen gums may be tender, so the anesthetic helps to make the procedure more comfortable. The procedure begins with scaling. Scaling involves the use of a specialized scaler that helps us to remove all buildup from the visible surfaces of your teeth with extra attention paid around the gum line and just below it. We remove plaque, tartar, bacteria, and other debris. After scaling, root planing is performed. Root planing is the process of cleaning the roots of your teeth. Thin, specialized tools are used to smooth the surfaces of your tooth roots, removing plaque, bacteria, and other toxins. Removing this buildup makes it more difficult for new bacteria to adhere to the roots while your gums heal. Finally, an antimicrobial rinse is used to wash out below the gum line, removing any bacteria that might still be present.
The Benefits of Scaling and Root PlaningScaling and root planing has several benefits.• |
The procedure is minimally invasive and non-surgical.
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We eliminate all buildup, including tartar, or hardened plaque, which cannot otherwise be removed with regular brushing.
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We help to slow and stop the progression of your gum disease, which provides your mouth the opportunity to begin healing.
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As your oral health begins to improve, your smile improves. With your smile improved, your confidence will increase. |
Scaling and root planing eliminates harmful buildup from the surfaces of your teeth, alleviating the irritation and inflammation of your gums to give the tissue a chance to heal. For more information, or to schedule your consultation, call Sussex Dental today at (262) 246-6806. |