Deep Cleaning

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a Deep Cleaning below the gumline used to treat gum disease.

Why Would I Need It?

Gum disease is caused by plaque – a sticky film of bacteria. Plaque is always trying to forming on your teeth, and if it isn’t cleaned well enough by brushing and flossing, the bacteria in the plaque can inflame your gums. Whenever this happens, your gums will begin  to pull away from your teeth and form spaces called pockets. Plaque gets trapped in these pockets and it can’t be removed with brushing and flossing. If left untreated, gum disease could lead to bone and tooth loss eventually.

If gum disease is caught early enough and hasn’t damaged the tooth and gum below the gum line, a standard teeth cleaning should be able to remove the plague fairly easily. If the pockets between your gums and teeth have become too deep, scaling and root planing may be required to remove it and help your gums and teeth recover.

What Happens During A Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)?

There are 2 parts to the deep teeth cleaning.

• Scaling is when your dentist removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gumline, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket.
• Root planing is the smoothing out your teeth roots to assist and encourage your gums to reattach to your teeth.

It may take more than one visit to complete and will likely require a local anesthetic.