This is a common form of treatment for gum disease. Scaling is
the removal of calculus, also called tartar as well as plaque.
Root planing is the removal of any calculus from irregular tooth
surfaces and also it smoothes our root surface irregularities.

Scaling and root planing removes the irritants that can cause gum
disease. If someone is in the early stages of gum disease,
scaling and root planing may be the only treatment necessary.

Some dental patients experience discomfort during this procedure,
so local anesthetic may be used in the area being worked on by
the dentist.

The dentist will use both hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers
to do the scaling and root planing. The ultrasonic instruments
may be electric or they may be air-powered.

Hand instruments come in different shapes and sizes and are used
to knock plaque and calculus off each tooth. The hand instruments
are called: scalers and curettes.

The ultrasonic instruments are used to remove larger deposits of
plaque and calculus from around the crowns (top of the tooth) and
roots of the teeth.

If you have mild gum disease (gingivitis) this treatment can
usually be done in one visit. If you have a more advanced form of
gum disease it will take four visits to complete the treatment.
One quadrant will be done with each visit (1/4 area of your
mouth).

After the treatment you may notice some soreness and sensitivity
to hot or cold temperatures. You will probably be told to take
over-the-counter pain relievers to help minimize the discomfort.
You may be instructed to use an antiseptic mouth rinse after
scaling and root planing. It is common to experience bleeding
when brushing your teeth for the first few days following this
treatment. Your dentist may have put on a fluoride-containing gel
to prevent root cavities and will have instructed you in proper
brushing and flossing techniques.

It is important that if your medical doctor has ever instructed
you to take antibiotics before dental procedures that you inform
your dentist of this before undergoing this treatment.

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