Scaling and Root Planing Therapy
 Proper oral hygiene is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Oral hygiene involves multiple components, including regular daily brushing and flossing at home as well as regular dental cleanings and exams. Ignoring your oral hygiene routine, even if you simply skip a few brushing or flossing sessions here and there, can greatly increase your risk of developing gum disease. At Riverwind Dental, we can help to stop the progression of your gum disease, restoring the health of your mouth, with scaling and root planing therapy. What is Gum Disease?Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a progressive oral health condition that affects the health of your gum tissue, your teeth, and your jawbone. It begins when a buildup of plaque and bacteria on the surfaces of your teeth irritate your gums. Swollen tissue eventually begins to pull away from your teeth, leading to the formation of periodontal pockets. These pockets collect bacteria and other debris. The bacteria continue attacking your gums, causing the pockets to deepen. They also begin attacking your periodontal ligaments and your jawbone, weakening these supporting structures. Your gums begin to recede, and your teeth become loose. You may even be faced with tooth loss. Scaling and Root Planing TherapyScaling and root planing therapy is a common treatment used for putting a stop to the progression of gum disease. It is a nonsurgical treatment that is essentially a deep cleaning of all surfaces of your teeth, both above and below the gum line. Before treatment, we first perform a thorough oral exam, which includes both a visual exam as well as dental X-rays. The exam is performed to assess the extent of your gum disease and determine if scaling and root planing is truly the best course of action. How is Scaling and Root Planing Therapy Done?Scaling and root planing, while a nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatment, is still done under a local anesthetic. Your swollen gums may be tender, so the local anesthetic helps to ensure your comfort while we perform your procedure. The treatment begins with scaling. This is a cleaning of the visible surfaces of your teeth, with special attention given to the areas around your gum line and just below it. With a dental scaler, we scrape the surfaces of your teeth, removing all buildup. We are even able to eliminate the most stubborn tartar or calcified plaque, which cannot be removed with any amount of toothbrushing. After your scaling is complete, we move on to root planing. This is the process of removing plaque, bacteria, and other toxins from the surfaces of your tooth roots. The surfaces are smoothed, which aids in preventing new bacterial adhesion. Once the roots have been cleaned, an antibacterial rinse is administered below the gum line to help eliminate any lingering bacteria. You are then scheduled for a follow-up visit approximately six to eight weeks later. What are the Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing Therapy?Scaling and root planing therapy offers several benefits.
With scaling and root planing therapy, we can put a stop to the progression of gum disease, giving your mouth the opportunity it needs to begin healing. Call Riverwind Dental today to schedule your consultation at (804) 280-0853. |
