Hygiene Treatments - Scaling and Root Planing

You may not have visited the dentist for a while and have some bleeding when cleaning or you may find that there’s stain building up on your teeth and so require a scaling treatment. If your gums have deteriorated a little more, then you may find that there is food trappage, more precise bleeding, black triangle spaces appearing between your teeth or even some teeth have moved and are mobile. If this is the case, more thorough cleansing is needed with attentional also paid to the areas underneath the gum line.

The damage to gums is always caused by bacteria build up and this can be in the form of a soft build up ( plaque) or hard deposits called calculus, more commonly called “tartar.” Dental plaque should be removed with excellent oral hygiene but when this has solidified to calculus, it needs to be removed professionally to arrest further gum damage.

What is Scaling?

This is when calculus ( tartar) and staining is removed using either hand instruments or an ultra-sonic scaler ( with the aid of water). It’s mainly concentrated to those deposits situated abound the gum line that cause gingivitis ( gum inflammation) and unsightly blemishes.

A full mouth polishing is then performed to finish the cleaning process to remove the final bits of staining and leave your mouth feeling fresh and zingy!

Before you leave this appointment, you will be shown how to keep your mouth in optimum condition with demonstrations of tooth brushing techniques as well as interdental cleaning such as flossing and Tepe brushes. We can also advise on which toothpastes and toothbrushes would best suit your individual needs.

Scaling is commonly completed in one visit, however in some cases there may be a need to take two visits to get your teeth and gums in the best possible condition. To maintain your heathy smile, we will advise you on how often this needs to be undertaken; some people will need to have their scaling every three months but six monthly is the most common.

What is Root Planing?

When your gums have deteriorated further than inflammation of your gums ( gingivitis), the structures that hold your teeth become affected: periodontal fibres and bone. This is known as periodontal disease and generally results in a loss of bone levels around your teeth and deeper pockets between your teeth and gums. The extra space caused by the pocket formations creates an area underneath your gum-line that can fill with plaque and tarter, leaving bacteria to cause even further damage.

We know that you are unable to clean to bottom of these pockets with even the best of oral hygiene regime. Root planing/ Root Surface Debridement is when your teeth are professionally cleaned to base of these pockets to allow healing of the gums and resolution of the pockets. This stabilises the bone and gums whilst leaving you with shallow pockets that can be maintained at home with excellent cleaning and regular checkups and scaling.

Periodontitis can affect the whole mouth or certain parts of it. It may be in early stages or unfortunately it may have progressed to a more advanced stage. Before root planing is undertaken a full Periodontal Examination is undertaken and involves taking measurements around all of your teeth as well as taking X-rays of the affected areas.

In more challenging cases, you may be advised to be treated by a dentist that specialises in these conditions called a Periodontist. These highly trained professionals may employ other treatments in conjunction to the root planing such as antimicrobial therapy, laser treatments and on occasion some micro-surgical techniques. This would all be explained to you in a detailed treatment plan after your consultation with the Periodontist.

Once treated, your teeth and gums will look and feel great and will be stabilised enough to carry out any further treatments that may have been recommended. You will have been advised and shown in great detail how to keep your mouth in fantastic condition and your must undertake these lifestyle changes and/ or daily hygiene regime in order to ensure this. Likewise regular check ups and scalings are necessary to maintain your healthy smile.

What to Expect:

Periodontal treatment usually requires a prior consultation/ examination appointment and then takes  2 extended visits ( 1 hour long). It is performed with local anaesthesia meaning you will be numb during the procedure.

A three month follow up is arranged to monitor and measure the resolution and also to reinforce the cleaning techniques that you will need to use.