Scaling and Root Planing

While a routine dental cleaning is great for helping you maintain your oral health, it can only clean a small portion of your teeth and gums. If plaque, tartar and bacteria build up in areas that aren’t touched during a routine dental cleaning, our dentists, Drs. Noles, Estes, and Steinhauer at Noles Family Dental may recommend scaling and root planing.

Clean Below the Gum Line With Scaling and Root Planing

Plaque and tartar are easily removed from the surface of your teeth during a routine cleaning. However, removing plaque and tartar built up under the gum line and on the roots of the teeth is more difficult. Not only is the plaque and tartar harder to reach in these areas, but the task is more time-consuming. That is why a separate dental procedure is needed.

Scaling and root planing, sometimes called deep dental cleaning, is a separate dental treatment that cleans those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. During this procedure, the gum tissue surrounding your teeth is gently pushed back. This exposes those hard-to-reach areas and allows our dental team to properly clean them.

Scaling and Root Planing Is a Two-Step Process

During an appointment for a deep cleaning, two procedures are actually occurring at the same time. The first procedure is known as scaling. Scaling involves gently scraping the surface of the teeth and around the pockets of the gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
Scaling is done as part of a routine dental cleaning. However, a deep scaling reaches areas that might have been left untouched during a routine cleaning.

The second procedure is root planing. Root planing cleans and removes plaque that has accumulated on the roots of the teeth. This procedure also smooths out rough spots on the roots which can trap bacteria and cause infection.

Who Needs Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing is recommended for individuals who suffer from moderate to severe gum disease that has caused deep pockets and spaces to form around the gums and teeth.

Our dental team may also recommend scaling and root planing if it has been a long time since a routine dental cleaning has been performed. This is because plaque and tartar may become so hard that they cannot be removed with the tools used during a routine dental cleaning.

Is Scaling and Root Planing Performed in a Single Appointment?

Both scaling and root planing are performed as part of a single procedure. However, due to the time involved with the procedure, our dental team typically performs a deep cleaning in sections. One section is cleaned per appointment. This means multiple appointments are needed in order to clean the entire mouth.

Think You Need Scaling and Root Planing? Call Our Greensburg Dentist

Noles Family Dental provides comprehensive dental care in a calm, comforting environment. If you think you need scaling and root planing or it has been a while since you have had a regular professional dental cleaning, call us to schedule an appointment. Our dentist can help determine if you need a deep cleaning and also provide you with treatment recommendations that will help improve your oral health.

Scheduling an appointment to see our dentist in Greensburg is easy. Just give us a call or use our online contact us form. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!