Has Your Dentist Prescribed Scaling and Root Planing for Your Teeth? Read This!

Posted on: 9 June 2021

Even though there is a multitude of dental issues that the average person can develop, gum disease happens to be one of the most common afflictions that the population deals with for one main reason — poor oral hygiene. Factors such as poor cleaning techniques, improper diet, inconsistency and more all increase one's risk of developing gum disease and as this issue worsens, it begins to affects the tissue that supports your teeth. This is what leads to inflammation, sensitivity, tenderness and so on.

At this time, you should be concerned about periodontal pockets forming in your gum line that harbour bacteria as this will necessitate professional attention. When you visit a dentist, they will likely prescribe scaling and root planing to address this problem. Here is what you need to know about this form of treatment.

How is scaling and planing carried out? 

The first thing to note about this treatment is that it is a form of deep teeth cleaning. Hence, it is employed to eliminate the plaque, tartar and bacteria that has collected on your gum line and is consequently affecting your oral health. Typically, a dentist will utilise an ultrasonic tool to start the scaling process, which is a step crucial for the removal of the aforementioned substances and microbes.

Once the dentist is satisfied with the condition of your gum line, they will then engage in the planing process, which works to smoothen out the roots of your teeth. To conclude the process, the dentist will usually apply a topical antibiotic to lessen the threat of a subsequent infection.

What advantages do scaling and planing offer?

What you need to be cognisant of regarding gum disease is that it is a progressive problem. Hence, it is vital to catch it early while it is still reversible or you will have to contend with the effects of periodontitis, which is much more difficult to heal from. Therefore, a leading advantage that scaling and root planing offers is limiting your risk of full-blown gum disease that would harm your overall health.

The second advantage of this treatment is that it works to get rid of the discomfort that you are expecting when your gums are riddled with bacteria. This way, your quality of life is improved in the process. The third benefit of this treatment is that it prevents the expansion of the periodontal pockets that have formed in your gums and this mitigates the threat of exacerbated decay. Lastly, this treatment can also help get rid of foul breath. For more information, contact a dentist.

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