Periodontal disease is a serious gum disease that should not go untreated. If a dentist is not seen to treat the gums, the person may begin to lose teeth. Although periodontal disease is serious, there are several types of valuable treatments available.

Surgery is a common course of action, but depending on the severity of the condition, a non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing may be appropriate.

Process Summary

Scaling and root planing is actually an ideal deep dental cleaning procedure in the early stages of periodontal disease. During this time, the individual's teeth may develop abnormal pockets or spaces between the teeth. If these pockets become enlarged, the teeth will begin to pull away from the gum line and will eventually fall out.

Excess bacteria on the teeth can also be accidentally swallowed and make a person sick. This situation is very serious for people with heart disease because bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation of the heart chambers.

Root scaling and planing are usually administered as a single treatment under local anesthesia unless there is a significant amount of damage to the teeth. During the "scaling" portion of the procedure, the dentist uses power tools to remove excess bacteria from the teeth. Bacteria can appear as plaque, tartar, or decay.

Brushing teeth

The "brushing" part of the procedure involves cleaning below the gum level. Since bacteria may not be visible, the dentist looks for rough surfaces and uses a hand instrument to remove any debris or bacteria. There are two common types of hand instruments: an ultrasonic tool or a scaler tool. Dental patients tend to prefer the ultrasonic tool as it causes less discomfort.

Suitable candidates

To determine if an individual's periodontal disease is amenable to scaling and root planing, dentists use a guide provided by the American Dental Association (ADA). According to the ADA, gum disease that extends 3 to 6 millimeters below the gum line is suitable for scaling and root planing. Gum disease deeper than this amount will likely require surgery.

After the procedure

Since scaling and root planing involves the dentist working on sensitive areas of the teeth and gums, people may experience minor pain, soreness, and bleeding after the procedure. The individual may also notice a temporary sensitivity to hot or cold beverages.

In most cases, over-the-counter medications are enough to relieve symptoms. The dentist should be contacted if they last for a long period of time.