Scaling and Root Planing: What is it? How Does It Work?
Root scaling and planing are two of the most important ways to treat periodontal disease, which is also called gingivitis. When left untreated, it can cause ongoing damage to your teeth and lead to even more serious conditions.
But because these processes are so tricky to master, you won’t find many general dentists willing to do them on their own patients. Instead, they have specialists who only focus on one or the other. Both of these procedures help clean beneath the surface of your gums, removing plaque and tartar that would otherwise remain hidden and continue to fester.
Root planing is a surface-level procedure that does just what it sounds like: smoothes out the roots of your teeth by removing any excess buildup with a sharp tool so you won’t have trouble fitting dental implants later on.
Scaling, on the other hand, is a more invasive strategy that removes deeper layers of plaque from underneath your gums as well as above them before either cleaning or fixing any sores that were discovered in the process.
What’s Involved in Root Scaling and Planing?
Root scaling and planing are both invasive and uncomfortable procedures that can take a while to complete. Expect to spend hours in the dental chair to make sure everything is done properly.
As the name implies, both root scaling and planing require the dentist to access your gum line with a scaler or a curette in order to get the job done. scaling and root planing pain is a more invasive procedure that requires the dentist to reach beneath the gum line to remove tartar buildup.
They will then scrape the area with a curette to ensure that all traces of plaque are gone. This will often involve first applying a local anesthetic to numb the gums to minimize your discomfort as well as a rubber dam to create a barrier between their tools and your mouth.
Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing
As you might expect, the benefits of scaling and root planing depend largely on whether you’re getting root scaling or root planing. Root scaling is the better option if you’re looking to prevent future dental implant placement problems.
When plaque and tartar build up on your gum line, it can make it hard for your dentist to get a good grip when installing artificial teeth. Scaling helps ensure that you won’t have to undergo a second procedure to fix this problem.
Root planing is recommended if you already have periodontal disease, as it will help to eliminate complications caused by this disease. If plaque and tartar are buried under your gums, they will be extremely difficult to remove during a routine cleaning.
Root planing is the best way to get rid of this build-up so you can avoid the pain and discomfort associated with deep cleaning. Root scaling alone isn’t enough for this due to the limited distance it can reach.
How Does Root Scaling Work?
Root scaling is an invasive procedure that is usually performed under local anesthetic. The dentist will use a scaler, which is a kind of dental scalpel, to cut away excess plaque and tartar from beneath your gum line.
Root scaling is often done during a regular cleaning appointment to remove just enough tartar so that it won’t interfere with the fitting of dental implants.
It’s also performed as part of another procedure, such as when a dentist is clearing up the aftermath of gum disease.
How Does Root Planing Work?
Root planing is the more invasive procedure of the two. This more aggressive type of cleaning is usually done in conjunction with root scaling. A curette, which is a long, thin blade with a sturdy handle, is used to remove plaque and tartar buildup beneath the gum line.
Depending on the extent of your periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend that root planing be done as part of a regular cleaning or even every three months. Root planing is also used to treat gingivitis, which is the milder form of periodontal disease.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to more serious periodontal diseases with even more detrimental effects.
When Are Root Scaling and Planing Performed?
Since root scaling and root planing are often done as part of a routine cleaning appointment, they will be done as soon as your dentist has identified the need. He or she might be able to spot the signs of periodontal disease on their own, but in some cases, root scaling and planing are done to treat gum disease that hasn’t yet reached the surface of the gums.
Some people are at higher risk of developing periodontal disease than others. If someone in your family has already been diagnosed with the condition, you may be more likely to have it as well.
Root scaling and planing are also performed to prepare your gums for dental implants. During this process, your dentist will scrape away plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line to make sure there’s enough room for the implants to fit properly.
Who Performs These Procedures and How Are They Done?
Root scaling and planing are usually performed by specialists who focus primarily on the health of your gums and the surrounding area. A periodontist is a dental professional who specializes in oral health and the treatment of periodontal diseases.
Their training is more specific than a general dentist’s, so they are better equipped to handle the more in-depth root scaling and planing procedures.
Should You Get a Root Scaler or a Root Planer?
Root scaling and planing are both types of scaling procedures, but they differ in the depth to which they reach. Root scaling is the more superficial of the two, reaching just beneath the gum line.
Root planing, on the other hand, goes much deeper and actually removes plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth.
Summing up
When left untreated, gingivitis, or periodontal disease, can cause more serious complications, including the loss of teeth. Root scaling and planing are two of the most important ways to treat this disease by removing plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line.
Root scaling is a surface-level procedure that does just what it sounds like: smoothes out the roots of your teeth by removing any excess buildup with a sharp tool so you won’t have trouble fitting dental implants later on.
Scaling, on the other hand, is a more invasive strategy that removes deeper layers of plaque from underneath your gums as well as above them before either cleaning or fixing any sores that were discovered in the process.