Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease depending on severity of it may need to be treated. During your dental checkup, your hygienist will take a instrument called a probe and will gently walk the probe around the tooth to check the depth of the sulcus. Generally, the more severe the disease, the deeper the pocket.

Periodontal scaling and root planing or “deep scaling” is necessary if plaque and calculus deposits are on tooth and root surface.This helps the gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink, which makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surface. After that treatment is done, which may take several visits, you will come back in several months to re-evalute your gums and sulcus deths and determine if pockets have decreased. If decreased you will be set up for periodontal maintance to monitor your periodontal disease and try to prevent further breakdown. If the disease advances to the point where pockets are deep and the supporting structures is lost, additional treatment may be necessary. You may need to go to a periodontist.