Pursuing proper oral hygiene is very important for better health, and one of the key parts of achieving this is to get professional care from dentists. Scaling and Root Planing is one of the key processes in preventing periodontal disease. People living in Logan Lake, BC can better understand this process, its significance, and what they should anticipate. The information listed in this guide is provided by a renowned dentist in Logan Lake, BC, and will help you understand more about scaling and root planing to be able to make decisions about your dental care.
What is Scaling and Root Planning?
Scaling and root planning is a deep cleaning procedure that your dentist performs to treat gum disease (also called periodontitis). Scaling and root planning are two of the key components involved in this non-invasive procedure. Scaling cleans plaque and tartar from the surfaces of teeth and underneath the gum line, and root planning smooths the tooth roots to promote healing and reattachment of the gums to the teeth.
Why Do You Need Scaling and Root Planning?
Treating Gum Disease
It is a widespread condition, resulting from plaque and tartar accumulation on the teeth and gums. Untreated, it can cause inflammation, gum recession, and even tooth loss. Scanning both the tooth and root is crucial to eliminating the harmful bacteria and toxins associated with gum disease so that the gums can heal and reattach to the teeth.
Leading to Avoiding New Problems
Scaling and root planning can help prevent gum disease from advancing to the next stage. Taking care of it right away can save you from more invasive treatment like surgery and can lead to more overall oral health.
What is the procedure for Scaling and Root Planning?
- Initial Assessment: You will need to start with a dental check-up. Your dentist or periodontist will evaluate the severity of the gum disease, measuring the depth of the gum pockets and your overall oral health. You may also have X-rays to look at bone loss.
- Local Anesthesia: The areas to be treated are then numbed up using a local anesthetic to keep you feeling comfortable throughout the procedure. This helps to keep them comfortable while enabling the dentist to perform deep cleaning effectively.
- Scaling: In this scaling stage, the dentist uses specific instruments (such as ultrasonic scalers and hand scalers) to remove the plaque and tartar on the tooth surfaces and under the gum line. This process plays an important role in removing the bacteria responsible for gum redness and swelling.
- Root Planning: Once the teeth have been scaled, root planning involves smoothing out the root surfaces of the teeth. This process removes bacterial toxins to create a clean surface that promotes healing, whereby gums reattach to the teeth. Rough root surfaces also make it more difficult for plaque to accumulate in the future.
Scaling and root planning is an important dental procedure that is used to treat gum disease and restore oral health. Whether you live in Logan Lake, BC, or elsewhere, knowing the importance of this deep cleaning procedure can help you be proactive about protecting your gums and teeth. If you think you have gum disease or if your dentist has recommended scaling and root planning, it is important to follow the treatment recommendations. With that, you can have the advantage of healthy gums, less risk of losing all your teeth, and better overall health. Prevention in the way of oral health hygiene and dental visits can keep you on track with no gum disease throughout the years.
