After being diagnosed with periodontal disease, you may be mulling over the various treatment options, from medication to gum surgery. One of the treatment options that you may have heard about as a possible option is tooth scaling and root planing.
If you have never heard of this deep-cleaning procedure for treating severe gum disease, you may have a lot of questions, including how it actually works. There are a couple of ways that scaling and root planing can help to treat your periodontal disease
1. Scaling Removes the Built-up Plaque and Bacteria at the Gumline
One way that this procedure helps to treat your gum disease has to do with the first part of the treatment. When a dentist performs scaling on the base of your teeth along the gumline, it deep cleans the surfaces, removing the hardened plaque that has built up.
Within this plaque lives bacteria that thrive by feeding off the sticky substance as well as the gums, causing severe damage to the tissue. Once the scaling is completed after one or more treatments, the bacteria are killed off and the gums can breathe and heal.
2. Root Planing Smooths Out the Damaged, Rough Tooth Surfaces above the Gums
After scaling is performed to remove all of the plaque and bacteria, the surfaces of the teeth are prepared for the second part of the procedure. Once the surfaces are cleaned off, the dentist will find that there are areas of rough, damaged enamel along the base of the teeth right above the gums.
Because these areas will only encourage new buildup of plaque and encourage bacteria growth, they are smoothed out using the process known as root planing. After all of the ridges are removed to leave a cleaner, healthier surface, the gums are allowed to heal. As the gums heal, they will start to regrow and reattach themselves to the new smooth and clean surfaces of the teeth's bases.
Once the scaling and root planing are completed, your dentist will decide whether more treatments are needed, depending on the severity of periodontal damage. As your gums heal, they should start to regrow and reattach themselves to the base of your teeth as long as you keep up with the recommended oral hygiene routine. For more information about what is involved with the procedure and recovery, speak with a dentist in your area that offers periodontal disease treatment.
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