Root Planing And Tooth Scaling Dental Facts

Root planing and tooth scaling are dental procedures suggested for patients to save teeth so are not generally optional. The pronunciation of root planing is recognized more likely when one states plaining rather than planing,which is how it is spelled.

Symptoms requiring root planing and scaling

There is a wide range of symptoms from excessive bleeding gums, foul smelling breath, receding gums, loose teeth and painful chewing due to sensitive gum tissue in the mouth. Most often times this dental procedure yields a most favorable outcome in saving teeth and restoring healthy gums. The alternative generally is single or multiple tooth loss when a dentist recommends tooth scaling and planing for immediate or at least relatively soon to be done mouth treatment.

Preparation of treatment

Both of these procedures will be done together, performed by a periodontist since DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) refer patients to specialists for this dental health procedure. During the initial visit a solution will be prescribed to swish in the mouth 7 to 10 days prior to the onset of the procedure. The solution is expensive, however a must to use as directed. 

Onset of dental planing and scaling

On the day of the first dental planing and scaling the mouth is prepared with a numbing solution dabbed on the gum line where dental work will be performed. Novocaine is injected into the gum so no pain is felt while the planing and scaling work is performed. This fact is important to know to completely cooperate with the periodontist, hygienist and assistant and for relaxation in the dental treatment chair.

Only one quadrant of the mouth is selected at a time to remove plague from the upper visible crown of the tooth going below the gum line. Scaling the entire tooth surface until the root has been scraped as well removes bacteria that causes periodontal disease and gingivitis. This gives the gums a healthy surface to bond to and prepares the teeth for a healthy future as well. Laser dentistry might be a choice for your periodontist to use along with other dental tools, while some remain with the water drill method only.

During a visit that 1/4 of the mouth is completely scraped before making another appointment for another quadrant to be scaled. After the planing and scaling are completed on that one area, thin strands saturated with antibiotics are inserted into the pockets in the gum line. They are removed in a week after the medicine has been fully absorbed, leaving the mouth in a much improved wellness state than without the scaling and planing being done.

Dentists most often times do not need a follow up appointment since dental patients will return when symptoms again reoccur if they ever do. Precise dental hygiene such as brushing, flossing, water pick use at least once a day are a must to prevent gum diseases.

 Resource:

Author's personal experience with scaling and root planing dental procedure.

Photograph:

Roberta Baxter after completing dental root planing and scaling. Location is at Lake Mc Donald, Glacier National Park, Glacier, Montana. All rights reserved by author.