Scaling and Root Planing

If you’ve neglected your oral hygiene, the new year is the perfect time to resume it! Brushing and flossing twice a day is essential for good oral health, but twice-a-year visits to the dentist will allow you to get a deeper cleaning. This is when people get scaling, and if necessary, planing. We want all our patients at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado to feel informed about our procedures, so let’s look at what happens during a deep cleaning.

Scaling is the process by which a hygienist uses a hooked wand, called an explorer to break apart tartar. Plaque is the sticky mixture of bacteria and acid that accumulates on teeth, and it contributes to tooth decay and gum recession. Tartar is the hardened version of plaque which commonly builds up near the gum line and on the sides and back of the teeth. Removing it prevents the gum tissue from retreating from around a tooth, allowing the gum pocket to stay tight and free of infection.

If the gum pockets have developed an infection, we may carry out a root planing procedure. What this means is that, after administering local anesthesia, we’ll smooth the tooth roots. This will eliminate crevices that bacteria hide in, making the teeth easier to clean in the future and reducing the risk of the infection returning. Patients may also be advised to take an antibiotic for a brief period and to make a return visit so we can confirm the gum pockets are healing.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.