Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing effectively treat periodontal disease and restore gum health. Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning process done by your dentist to treat plaque and tartar buildup. It targets areas that regular brushing and flossing cannot reach, especially beneath the gumline. The removal of the harmful bacteria, along with the smoothing of the teeth’s roots, helps minimize inflammation. This promotes gum reattachment and stops the progression of gum disease.

At The Hawthorne Dentist, our experienced staff uses advanced technology and a gentle approach to ensure your scaling and root planing treatment is precise and comfortable. We aim to prevent problems like gum recession or lost teeth while improving oral health. Do not let gum disease change your smile or lower your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule your appointment. But first, read on to better understand what scaling and root planing entail.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

As your dental routine becomes less consistent, your oral health can deteriorate significantly, which becomes apparent when plaque accumulates on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that forms on teeth. If not removed daily, plaque hardens into tartar, which does not go away with brushing or flossing. The bacteria will flourish in this debris, which leads to swollen and bleeding gums, gum disease, and tooth loss.

Scaling and root planing offer a targeted solution to address these issues. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from visible surfaces and beneath the gumline, where the tartar irritates the gum tissue, causing gingivitis or periodontitis. Root planing comes next to smoothing out the root surfaces of your teeth. This eliminates rough parts that trap bacteria and cause inflammation to continue. It stops the bacteria from growing further and helps the gums heal and reattach the teeth. It will also reduce the size of the pockets formed by the disease.

Combining these treatments will help restore the health of your teeth and gums, stop bleeding and bad breath, and prevent further damage.

Conditions that Warrant Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing (SRP) is a procedure that actively treats periodontal disease by removing plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. Dentists smooth the root surfaces to promote gum reattachment and healing. This procedure goes beyond routine cleaning and sets the stage for managing and reversing gum disease.

Having some conditions means you will need a dental scaling, particularly:

Persistent Bad Breath

Unfortunately, bad breath that persists even when you practice good oral care could indicate periodontal disease. This condition occurs because bacterial plaque forms on the teeth and hardens into tartar, which regular brushing and flossing cannot remove. Tartar accumulation creates spaces between teeth and gums where bacteria thrive and produce foul-smelling gases that cause ongoing bad breath.

Scaling and root planing tackle the root cause directly. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, helping eliminate the bacteria that cause the smell. After that, root planing is carried out. This smooths the roughened tooth root surfaces to stop bacteria from sticking to them. Furthermore, this prevents further buildup, which will continue to create bad breath.

Scaling and root planing eliminate odour-producing bacteria and heal gum tissues. The depth of periodontal pockets decreases as the gums heal and reattach to the teeth, making it more difficult for the bacteria to survive. This decline in inflammation and pocket depth also helps freshen breath by preventing the production of bad-smelling substances.

Teeth Movement

Gum or periodontal disease begins when a bacterial plaque builds up on your teeth and hardens into tartar if not removed. This plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar gets stuck to the teeth and traps bacteria that release toxins that irritate the gums. This results in a condition known as gingivitis. If not treated, gingivitis will develop into periodontitis, and the damage will also spread to your teeth, bones, and ligaments. Your body responds to this inflammation, but in the process, it causes the bone to deteriorate.

When bone loses density, teeth and gums develop deeper pockets. These deep pockets are ideal for bacteria, perpetuating a cycle of infection and bone loss. As time goes on, this might cause teeth to become loose or shift, changing the pattern of your bite and even causing malocclusion.

SRP interrupts this destructive cycle. It removes plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, where bacteria that cause the infection live. At the same time, the scaling process lessens the inflammation that causes bone loss. After scaling, your dentists will perform root planing. This smoothens the root surfaces, removing any rough spots and residual tartar where bacteria stick to infect.

The SRP procedure has many advantages. Most importantly, it reduces inflammation, which improves your body’s healing process. This can help your gums stick back to your teeth, making the pockets shallower and harder for bacteria to build.

SRP may stop or slow down bone loss by stabilizing the inflammation, which can help stabilize loose and shifting teeth. Even though SRP will not reverse extensive bone loss, it helps prevent it from worsening and sets up your ability to follow proper oral hygiene to maintain your periodontal state. The success rate of SRP depends on a few factors, including:

• The severity of the disease at the start of treatment
• Compliance with aftercare
• Your general health

Changes in Your Bite Position

Changes in bite position can happen due to your teeth shifting because of periodontal bone loss. Bone loss, a part of periodontal disease, occurs when infection and inflammation erode bone supporting your teeth. As the bone density shrinks, your teeth may feel looser or shift positions, causing changes in your bite position.

Scaling and root planing treatment targets the root cause of the issue. The scaling process removes plaque and tartar above and below your gumline to manage the bacteria infection that causes bone loss. Through rooting planing, the rough surface of the teeth is smoothed down to prevent the accumulation of bacteria.

SRP helps in several ways, including:

• Slowing or stopping further bone loss
• Stabilizing teeth
• Reducing further movement

It also helps your gums reattach to your teeth, reducing the depth of the periodontal pockets and improving tooth stability. With teeth stabilization, your bite pattern will not change significantly, but if it does, varying treatment options, like orthodontics, may be needed.

Scaling and root planing are key to managing and reversing many of periodontal disease’s effects. However, they are best at stopping further damage.

Swollen Gums

Scaling and root planing remove the source responsible for swollen gums, which is plaque. Plaque causes inflammation. Swelling can occur when plaque and tartar irritate your gum tissue with bacteria toxins. When you get scaling and root planing, the scaling part helps to remove harmful plaque from above and below the gum line. Root planing includes smoothing your tooth roots to minimize areas for bacteria to gather and prevent swelling in the future.

Scaling and root planing target the bacteria directly. Thus, the inflammatory response in your gums lessens, allowing swelling to go down. This not only helps to reduce the swollen gums but also helps to reduce periodontal disease and help the gum recover.

What to Expect Before Scaling and Root Planing

The scaling and root planing process is planned to treat periodontal disease and help you achieve healthy gums. You can expect the following as part of the pre-treatment process:

• The initial examination — Your dentist or periodontist will check your gums, use a probe to measure the depth of your periodontal pockets, and note any inflammation or bone loss. The dentist will also take dental X-rays to assess the extent of the damage. The examination gives a clear diagnosis that helps create a treatment plan for you.
• Diagnosis and discussion — After the evaluation, your dentist will analyze the effects of your periodontal disease on your mouth and why SRP is needed. They will discuss the treatment’s benefits, which will help with inflammation and stop further bone loss. They will also mention the risks, like temporary sensitivity or discomfort.
• Get your informed consent — They will describe the procedure’s length, number of visits required, aftercare, and any possible side effects. When you understand the procedure, you will give your consent.
• Oral hygiene preparation — Your dentist might recommend good oral hygiene to prepare your gums for your SRP. They may show you how to brush and floss effectively or recommend aids like interdental brushes or oral irrigators.
• Treatment planing — After a review by the dentist, the health condition will determine what type of treatment is best for you. They may treat your mouth in one session or split the process into more visits for comfort and thorough treatment.

The Scaling and Root Planing Process

After the pre-treatment process, you will schedule a day for the procedure. Dentists take steps to ensure the process is completed as expected. You can expect the following during the procedure:

Administration of Local Anesthesia

Your dentist or periodontist will administer local anesthesia to numb the target areas during scaling and root planing to keep you comfortable. The dentist does this step to ensure a smooth and straightforward procedure since action plans to remove tartar and plaque. If the dentist does not numb the area, you will feel uncomfortable.

Scaling the Problem Tooth

After numbing, the next stage is scaling. During this process, the dental team removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial biofilms from the surfaces of your teeth, including areas beneath the gum line. The dentists use manual scalers to target tightly adhered deposits and chip them away. They also use ultrasonic instruments to break larger tartar pieces and disrupt bacterial biofilm. The device uses a stream of water and the array, which vibrates at a high frequency to help cool the tip, flush the debris, and irrigate the periodontal pockets. It aims to remove the visible (supragingival) and below-the-gumline (subgingival) deposits, thus lowering the bacterial load that aggravates gum disease.

After scaling, the procedure proceeds to root planing.

Root planing focuses on smoothening the root surfaces of teeth. Dentists use special instruments to remove any remaining calculus and smoothen the rough spots caused by tartar buildup. Making the root surface smoother will make it cleaner and prepare the surface for gum attachment. Root planing clears off rough patches so bacteria cannot attach to the teeth. This reduces the depth of the pockets and helps gums reattach to the teeth. This step helps heal and reduce inflammation, which can induce bone regeneration and benefit gums.

Antimicrobial Irrigation

After scaling and root planing, dentists use an antimicrobial solution for irrigation. This helps improve periodontal health and avoid reinfection. Plaque, tartar, and bacterial biofilms are removed during scaling, and the rough surfaces of the roots are smoothed during root planing. Further, this antimicrobial irrigation helps clean and aid recovery.

This step flushes the pockets and displaces bacteria, toxins, and other debris that mechanical cleaning cannot remove. The solution’s antimicrobial agents, often chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, kill or stop the growth of bacteria, reducing the microbial load in the area. Chlorhexidine disrupts the cell membranes of bacteria, resulting in a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, controlling infection risks.

The irrigation process lessens gum inflammation by targeting pathogens, thus paving the way for better healing. With less inflammation, the gums are more likely to become reattached to the teeth, which results in lesser pocket depths and stable tissue. Moreover, it also stops you from recolonizing with bacteria too quickly. This way, your healing process can work quickly without interference.

The choice of antimicrobial solution varies from person to person, but the outcomes are similar. They will help the gums heal, prevent reinfection, and help make SRP effective long-term.

Post-Procedure Care

After completing the procedure, your dentist will check for excessive bleeding and give you post-treatment instructions so that the area can heal and there is no reinfection. Your health conditions permitting, you may take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage discomfort.

Maintaining good oral hygiene helps with recovery. To avoid irritation, you will be asked to:

• Brush gently with a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water or antimicrobial mouthwash. When using salt water, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water in a glass and gently rinse 2 to 3 times a day. This can help limit inflammation, ease the gums, and stop bacteria from growing there.
• Modify your diet — Choose soft foods, like yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, or soup. Add pureed fruits or smoothies with strawberries or oranges for vitamin C and tissue repair. Do not eat hard, crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods and drinks, as they can irritate your healing gums.

To further support healing:

• Do not smoke — Smoking restricts the blood flow to gums and slows down healing
• Cut down on alcohol — Alcohol can irritate the gum tissues and hinder recovery
• Do not drink through straws — Using straws can dislodge clots and cause injury to tissues
• Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water
• Put cold pads on your cheek. Preferably, for the first 24 hours, this will help to bring down swelling and stimulate pain.

Contact your dentists immediately if you have persistent swelling, bleeding, or pain.

Post-SRP Follow-Up Appointments

After a few weeks of scaling and root planing treatment, your dentist will use follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and ensure your periodontal health is on track. These visits help your dentist see how well your gums are healing, if there are any signs of infection, and the depth of your periodontal pockets to see if the gum tissue has reattached. Decreased pocket depth is a good sign that the gums are healing.

In your follow-ups, your dentist will monitor for signs of redness, swelling, or bleeding, which could indicate that your treatment did not solve the issue completely or that further treatment is required. If your healing is not progressing as expected, or if there is plaque or tartar left, you may need an extra cleaning check-up to address the remaining bacteria.

Your oral care may also need adjustments. You might be introduced to new techniques or tools to help you manage your gum health more effectively. This could include interdental brushes or a different brush. If the problem is more severe or if the first treatment was insufficient, you will be referred to a periodontist for further treatment. This specialist deals with gum disease and could suggest surgery.

Risks Associated With Scaling and Root Planing

SRP is an effective treatment for periodontal disease, but it poses potential risks and side effects that you should know before getting one. Some of the risks include:

• Temporary discomfort — You may experience discomfort during and after the procedure despite local anesthesia. At first, chewing or speaking may be uncomfortable. Over-the-counter pain medicine can help.
• Increased tooth sensitivity — After the procedure, the tooth may feel sensitive to hot, cold, or sweet foods. This is because the procedure exposes the teeth’ dentin layer, which has tiny pathways or tubules that connect to the nerve. You might feel sensitivity after the treatment, but that will go away as your gums heal. Your dentist could recommend a desensitizing toothpaste or treatment to manage discomfort.
• Gum soreness and irritation — After the treatment, your gums may feel tender or appear swollen and red. This is a normal response to the removal of tartar and plaque. To ease discomfort, rinse with warm salt water or use prescribed mouthwashes.
• Infections — While rare, infections can sometimes occur in the healing areas if they do not stay clean or if you have a low immune system. Look out for signs like increased pain and swelling or a strange taste in your mouth. Follow your dentist’s recommendations on hygiene and any preventive antibiotics if they have prescribed them.
• Bleeding — It is common to notice bleeding during and after the procedure, especially if the area is swollen. You should follow aftercare instructions, and if bleeding does not stop, apply gentle pressure with some gauze. Contact your dentist if the bleeding becomes concerning.
• Gum recession — Gum recession from SRP can allow more tooth roots to show. If a significant recession exists, this could cause aesthetic problems or sensitivity.
• Changes in tooth contour — Root planing may slightly alter the shape of your tooth roots, impacting how your teeth fit together. Any noticeable changes in your bite should be addressed at subsequent visits.
• Allergic reaction — Though rare, you could experience a reaction to the anesthetic or material used. Inform your dentist of any allergies beforehand.
• Higher risks for certain health conditions — If you suffer from cardiac or diabetic disease, you are at higher risk of infection or side effects of anesthesia. Your dentist will take other precautions as needed, like giving you antibiotics.

When you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions and raise issues promptly, your risks will be minimized, which will help you. Regular check-ups and proper oral hygiene practices are essential to maintaining the benefits of scaling and root planing and avoiding future complications.

The Cost of Scaling and Root Planing

Many factors affect the price of scaling and root planing, namely:

• The severity of your periodontal disease
• The number of quadrants that need treatment
• Whether a general dentist or periodontist
• Whether a general dentist or periodontist performs the procedure
• The pricing policy of the dental practice

Usually, the total cost for all four quadrants is between $740 and $1,776 without insurance, as treating a single quadrant costs between $185 and $444.

Most dental insurance plans consider SRP a necessary treatment for gum disease and cover 50% to 80% of it. However, the details of coverage differ. It is worth noting that:

• Insurance companies usually need proof, like periodontal charting or diagnostic X-rays, to show evidence that SRP is necessary
• The coverage is typically restricted to once every two years unless it is clinically justified for more
• Patients may have to pay some out-of-pocket costs for their appointments before insurance applies. For example, there may be a deductible to meet and a co-pay or a percentage of the fee that is not covered by their insurance.

Ask your dentist to submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company for an accurate cost estimate. The details will explain what is covered and what you must pay. This will help you plan for the procedure. Moreover, it will make the best use of your insurance benefits.

Find a Scaling and Root Planing Expert Near Me

Scaling and root planing will help you take control of your oral health and confidence. This treatment can stop further damage to your gums, reduce inflammation, and stabilize your teeth, offering a chance to reverse the effects of neglect or disease. With SRP, you can anticipate eating pain-free, smiling without hesitation, and living with peace of mind.

Do not let your gum disease go untreated for another day. Talk to The Hawthorne Dentist team today for more scaling and root planing information. Contact us at 310-775-2557 and get the dental care you deserve.