Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and Root Planing by Charleston Dental Associates

Charleston Dental Associates offers preventive dental treatments such as Scaling and Root Planing for our patients across the Charleston SC area.

One of the prime enemies in preventive dentistry is plaque buildup, a leading cause of gum disease. “Gum disease is caused by a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque is always forming on your teeth, but if they aren’t cleaned well, the bacteria in plaque can cause your gums to become inflamed. When this happens, your gums will pull away from your teeth and form spaces called pockets. Plaque then gets trapped in these pockets and cannot be removed with regular brushing. If untreated, gum disease could lead to bone and tooth loss.” ADA.org

Scaling and Root Planing: How it’s Done

Scaling and Root Planing is an effective preventive dental treatment for plaque buildup. This involves the careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque, calculus (also known as tartar) and diseased soft tissue from deep periodontal pockets. The treatment smooths the root surfaces to remove bacterial toxins so supportive tissue can better reattach to the tooth surface. Local anesthesia can reduce patient discomfort.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial disease, so reducing harmful bacteria is key. Sometimes, your dentist will place antimicrobials directly into the infected area in the pocket after scaling. Your dentist may also prescribe an antimicrobial rinse to help control the effects of the bacteria.

Prevent Gum Disease with Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is an effective, non-surgical periodontal therapy. It’s an early, less invasive treatment for periodontal disease that can save time, discomfort and money down the line. If you are dealing with plaque buildup or inflamed gums, the time to treat is NOW. Call Charleston Dental Associates today!