Gum Disease Treatment
Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)
Brushing and flossing your teeth are the two most important factors in daily dental hygiene. This is because plaque, a sticky mixture of food particles and bacteria, begins building up on your teeth within 20 minutes of eating a meal. If the plaque is not removed quickly, it can harden, turn into tartar and eventually cause tooth decay.
Brushing and flossing alone can't get rid of all the plaque and tartar in your mouth. That is why we schedule professional cleaning appointments for our patients in the Lansing area every six months. This regular cleaning is referred to as "prophylaxis" in the dental community. Using special cleaning instruments, we can clean and polish your teeth so they continue to remain healthy and free of decay and gum disease.
What is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing is a procedure that a dental hygienist performs and is often also called a deep cleaning (scaling and root Planing). Your dentist will recommend a deep cleaning (scaling and root Planing) when signs of gum disease become evident.
Gum disease signs include:
- An increase in gum tissue pocket depth
- Bleeding gum tissue
- Increased levels of plaque and calculus
- A loss in bone support
The procedure
Scaling and root planing usually requires more than one appointment. Your dental hygienist will use a local anesthetic to assure that you experience no discomfort and will remove hard deposit and bacteria from beneath the gum line.
This debris removal restores smoothness to the root of the tooth, so that it will gather fewer bacteria and less plaque. It allows the gums to heal and remain healthy if proper brushing and flossing habits are observed.
If you undergo root planing and scaling at our Howell office, you may experience discomfort and sensitivity for 24 hours. This can be controlled with over-the-counter medication and rinsing with salt water. You can also brush with desensitizing toothpaste, like Sensodyne, until the discomfort subsides.
" The dental procedures we specialize in enhance our
patients' look and their quality of life! "
If you're in the Lansing, Michigan area and your teeth are in need of their bi-yearly cleaning or a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), contact us today to set up an appointment. The more steps you take to keep your teeth clean and healthy today, the less dental problems you will have in your future!
