Gum disease occurs within the gums that result from plaque buildup, which is a sticky film of bacteria. Plaque forms on teeth naturally, and regular cleaning is the only way to ensure healthy teeth and gums. However, due to improper mouth cleaning, including brushing and flossing, the bacteria in the plaque cause gum inflammation. When this happens, the gums tend to detach from the teeth and create gaps between the gum and teeth called pockets. If you experience this problem, then immediately see an emergency dentist because you need quick dental treatment. Delaying the treatment will only make things worse because plaque deposition in the pockets becomes unavoidable as the toothbrushes’ bristles cannot reach these places.  As a result, you could face bone loss and tooth loss.

The treatment for gum disease

Dearly detection can prevent gum diseases from going out of hand, provided the damage has not penetrated deep into the structures below the gum line. The dentist does a professional cleaning to set things right as long as the pockets are not too deep. But in other cases, the dentist would recommend scaling and root planning. Those suffering from periodontist affects almost 47.2 adults in the United States who are above the age of 30 would benefit from scaling and planning.  It is a particular condition when the gum disease goes beyond gingivitis

Chronic gingivitis is common in children, for which you must visit a Fort Wayne pediatric dentistry clinic. They are the best professional to guide you in this situation.

Although the processes of scaling and planning seem almost identical, these are quite different.

When you need dental scaling

On examining your oral health, only a dentist can decide if you need some treatment like dental scaling, depending on the problem’s nature. Plaque accumulation below the gum line signals the beginning of gum disease as the bacteria remains within the pockets created by a receding gum line. Based on the amount of gap due to gum loosening, the dentist can evaluate the problem’s seriousness and its implications in the future to suggest a suitable treatment. If the dentist feels that there is the possibility of increased risk from the present condition, they would recommend scaling. Scaling is a particular dental cleaning procedure as it cleans the area below the gum line.

When you need dental planing

Unlike scaling, which cleans the pockets between the teeth and gums, planning is a different type of cleaning process that smoothes the tooth’s root to allow the gum to adhere to it in a better way. It will enable the gum to reattach with the tooth, thereby removing the pockets.  Planing the surface of the tooth root prevents plaque, bacteria, and tartar from adhering to the root surface again. The treatment reduces gum tissue inflammation and gives the gums time to heal and re-attach to the root more firmly. To prevent infection, the dentist might inject some medicine into the gum at the area of treatment.

How painful is the dental scaling procedure?

The dentist uses local anesthesia injected at the treatment area to create numbness so that patients do not feel any discomfort during the treatment that takes some time. The dentist uses special tools to remove the hardened tartar adhering to the entire tooth, above and below the gum line. Although planing is almost identical and the dentist follows the same steps as scaling, the application is different because the purpose is to remove the roughness of the tooth root and make it plain.  If the root’s surface is rough, it attracts plaque and bacteria that impede the process of healing the gums and prevents them from reattaching to the root.

Treatment completion time

A single visit to the dentist can be enough to complete the procedure, whether scaling or planing. According to dental protocols, a quarter of the mouth or half of the mouth per sitting is recommended. The dentist and the patient can mutually agree about the treatment plan depending on both parties’ convenience.

After the treatment, your gums would remain tender and numb for some more time under the influence of anesthesia. Healing and recovery happen naturally over time, during which you must follow your oral health routine of brushing twice a day and flossing consistently to allow the gums to regain their firmness and natural pink color.

A follow-up visit to the dentist might be necessary to monitor the progress, but the procedure is quite reassuring as the teeth become healthy once again. No further treatment would be necessary, and you must practice good dental and oral hygiene in the right way to prevent a recurrence. Most dental problems are avoidable if we take proper care of our oral health and share the dentists’ experience to seek improvement.