Scaling and Root Planing is usually the first dental treatment a patient receives for periodontal disease. Scaling and root planing attempts to remove all of the unwanted irritants under a patient's gums in an attempt to eliminate inflamation and infection.

          Half of the patient's mouth is numbed so that the hygienist can comfortably remove any hardened food ( calculus ) from below the patient's gums. This is called scaling and it's like removing the scales from a fish. In addition to hand scaling, most hygienists use ultrasonic vibrating tools to blast unwanted hardened deposits off of the patient's teeth during this phase of scaling and root planing. Scaling leaves a rough tooth surface so planing is needed next.

          A carpenter planes a door so that it's smooth. Essentially the dental hygienist performs the same procedure on a surgical level on the surface of the teeth. This allows the gums to regenerate without irritation. The gum tissue normally shrinks and becomes tight around the teeth after this scaling and root planing because there is no longer anything there to irritate the gums. Scaling and root planing can also reduce or eliminate the bleeding gums.

          After scaling and root planing is completed the gum tissue is allowed to heal and the results are later documented by charting the patient's pocket depth. Our aim is to achieve a 1 to 3 millimeter thickness of gum tissue after scaling and root planing.

          In some patients, scaling and root planing is the most aggressive treatment needed to control their periodontal disease. This is because scaling and root planing can often eliminate the inflamation and infection that promotes the tissue destruction around teeth with periodontal disease. Because scaling and root planing is a non-surgical treatment, patients often feel comfortable with it, however, scaling and root planing is most effective is treating early periodontal disease.

          Unfortunately, scaling and root planing is not a cure. Many patients have scaling and root planing done every two years to continually remove irritants that accumulate over this period.

          With the irritants gone, the scaling and root planing patient's gums shrink. This can expose tooth roots that were previously covered with inflamed gum tissue. The newly exposed roots are often sensitive to hot and cold. This sensitivity can usually be reduced or eliminated by brushing on a prescription fluoride gel like Periomed.

          PerioChip is a small chip that is inserted following scaling and root planing directly into infected periodontal pockets that are 5mm or greater in depth. The PerioChip can be quickly inserted and stays in place releasing an antibiotic called chlorhexidine. The Periochip then melts and is completely absorbed by a patient's gums in 7 to 10 days.

          Periostat is an antibiotic that is given in very low doses and inhibits destructive enzymes in a patient's gums. Scaling and root planing removes the irritants that cause destruction of the gums and Periostat reduces the strength of the irritants.

          If you are considering having scaling and root planing done and would like to speak with an Atlanta Dental Group, PC dentist, please call 404-874-7428 to schedule an appointment.