Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and Root Planing for Gum Disease

While you may brush and floss regularly at home, there are some hard-to-reach areas of your mouth that you can miss without special tools. Often, decay begins to set in these areas. At-home dental care should remain an essential part of your dental care. Dr. Spellman and his staff have the tools and access to your mouth to be able to clean every available surface to perfection. For this reason, professional dental cleanings go hand-in-hand with your regular appointments. Often, if a patient is suffering from periodontal disease, we recommend a more extensive treatment with scaling and root planing.

What is scaling and root planing?

Tooth scaling and root ​​​​​​​planing is the term given to a non-surgical dental procedure for patients with symptoms or visible signs of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a condition where bacteria accumulates on the teeth. Thus, affecting the gums and causing a range of problems, including swelling, bleeding, and infection. To deal with the periodontal disease and remove all traces of the bacteria, Dr. Spellman recommends scaling and root planing.

Tooth Scaling and periodontal pockets

Tooth scaling involves removing all of the plaque on your teeth. More importantly, you will also have the periodontal pockets cleaned. These are tiny gaps between the teeth and gums, caused by the gum pulling away from tooth as a result of periodontal disease. In mild cases of periodontal disease, these pockets may only be a millimeter or so deep. However, as tartar builds up and the disease progresses, the periodontal pockets become deeper, eventually reaching depths of 4mm or more. The main issue with deeper periodontal pockets is that they are impossible to clean at home. A toothbrush can’t access the pockets well enough to eradicate all of the bacteria. However, tooth scaling requires specific tools that can get into the pockets and clear them of these bacteria and any other debris.

Root Planing

During root planing, which Dr. Spellman performs after tooth scaling, the rough areas on the surface of your tooth’s root are made smooth. Root planing is done to prevent bacteria, plaque, and tartar from reforming, and allow your gum to reattach to your affected teeth, making them more secure.

Both tooth scaling and root planing are invasive procedures, so you can expect to experience some soreness in the days after your treatment. Swelling, redness, and some bleeding when you brush your teeth are all normal. You may also experience tooth sensitivity when eating or drinking anything, particularly hot, cold, or sweet. However, these side effects will all subside.

Patients who suffer from moderate to advanced periodontal disease may find that they need multiple scaling and root planing appointments during their lifetime. However, by taking steps towards fighting periodontal disease, you can prevent the need for scaling and root ​​​​​​​planing treatments.

Contact Us

If you have concerns about periodontal disease and would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric Spellman, call our Larchmont, NY office today at (914) 315-4446.