Have you been informed that gum disease is having an impact on your smile and dental health? Gum disease is a common dental disorder that can cause bone loss in the jaw and infect the soft tissues surrounding the teeth.
Gingivitis precedes gum disease and is frequently treatable with comprehensive dental prophylaxis and better at-home oral hygiene. However, gum disease treatment, such as scaling and root planing (SRP) therapy, will probably be required if the issue advances to the following stage (periodontitis) to safeguard oral health.
In this article, we’ll discuss how scaling, and root planing therapy may keep your teeth healthy and control gum disease. This non-surgical process is quick and straightforward and offers several advantages, including symptom relief and delaying the progression of your illness.
What is gum disease?
A serious infection or inflammation of the tissues that cover your teeth is known as gum disease. Plaque that is constantly developing on your teeth is to blame. Tartar, also known as dental calculus, can develop on the teeth when bacteria accumulate. Your gums may begin to peel away from your teeth due to this bacterial film, creating sizable pockets that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush. That’s why you must book an appointment for teeth cleaning in Calgary.
You can have gingivitis in its early stages, characterized by reddening, swelling, and bleeding of the gums. Gingivitis can cause gum disease, tissue damage, and the loss of bones and teeth if not addressed.
The positive news is that gum disease may be avoided with good oral hygiene, routine dental checkups, and frequent dental appointments.
Combining dental scaling and root planing is one of the finest ways to eliminate plaque and tartar from teeth. Scaling and planing may need more than one appointment, depending on the severity of the gum disease.
Teeth scaling
Using a manual device or an ultrasonic scaler that breaks up tartar with water, your dental hygienist performs scaling to remove plaque (the sticky film of germs that accumulates on teeth) and tartar from teeth & below the gum line. As part of your periodontal care, the hygienists at our dental clinic frequently carry out this operation. The main objective of this process is to eliminate debris and toxic germs from your mouth to encourage gum health and repair.
Root planing
In this process, the root surface of a tooth is cleaned underneath the gum line—this aids in the reattachment of receding gums to the tooth. When the gum tissue around a tooth gets inflamed and begins to shrink, more of the tooth and the root are exposed, causing pockets that result from gum recession. By removing these spaces, root planning makes it more difficult for germs to assemble.
Advantages of scaling and root planing
Scaling and planing may offer several periodontal advantages if the therapy is effective. One is that it can aid in illness prevention. Many believe that the bacteria that cause periodontal infections may enter the bloodstream and impact other systems, occasionally leading to heart and respiratory problems. The microorganisms that cause these diseases are eliminated through scaling and root planing.
The prevention of tooth loss is another advantage of therapy. Periodontal disease is possible when gum pockets are deeper than 3mm. More bacteria can colonize pockets as they get deeper, eventually triggering a persistent inflammatory response from the body that damages the bone and gingival tissue. The result is tooth loss.
In addition to reducing bad breath brought on by food particles and germs in the oral cavity, scaling and root planing may improve the appearance of the mouth. Scaling and planing will also eliminate any surface stains from the teeth, which is an added benefit.
Do scaling and root planing hurt?
Your dentist in Calgary will apply a local anesthetic to the affected region to prepare you for a scaling and root planing operation. Your mouth may be sensitive and uncomfortable due to chronic periodontitis; the local anesthetic will lessen any additional discomfort while the operation is being done.
How much time do scaling and root planing take?
You might take a couple of visits to accomplish scaling and root planing. The extent of your gum disease and the amount of plaque and tartar that has to be removed will determine how long it takes to finish the two treatments. Your dentist may divide the procedure into more than one session and operate on your mouth in stages if you require considerable dental work.
Aftercare for scaling and root planing
Before scheduling your operations, educating yourself about the aftercare for scaling and root planing is crucial. How long will it take for gums to recover after a deep cleaning? It is an important topic to ask. Do you need extra precautions following a scaling and root planing procedure? The severity of your gum disease affects how long it will take for your gums to recover following scaling and root planing. After your thorough dental cleaning, you can have some bleeding, swelling, sensitivity, and discomfort for a few weeks.
You must follow your oral hygiene practice religiously after scaling and planing to avoid plaque re-accumulation. Additionally, your dentist could advise using a prescription mouthwash to hasten the healing process. You must also know how often should you prefer professional dental cleaning to stop having any dental issues in future.
The risk involved with scaling and root planing
Risks associated with scaling and root planing include gum swelling, bleeding, sensitivity, pain, and discomfort. Your family dentist will give you a local anesthetic during the process to make you more comfortable. You can use over-the-counter painkillers after the surgery to feel more comfortable.
It’s crucial to remember that periodontitis not only carries all of these dangers but can also cause your gums to retreat and result in tooth loss as you weigh the possible hazards of scaling and root planing. Scaling and planing operations may cause temporary discomfort, but if nothing is done to treat periodontitis, the condition’s negative effects will only aggravate.
Cost of scaling and root planing
How much do root planing and scaling cost? The cost of scaling and root planing will vary depending on many things, including the severity of your illness, where you reside, and the kind of insurance you have. You shouldn’t anticipate this technique as normal maintenance because it requires more than simple cleaning.
Speak with your dentist and review the specifics of your dental insurance coverage to receive an exact cost breakdown. The good news is that treating periodontitis early on will be significantly less expensive than coping with the effects of letting your gum disease go unchecked.
