If your dentist or periodontist finds that you have plaque and calculus (hardened plaque, also known as tartar) behind your gums that has to be removed, scaling and root planing are performed. Some gum disease treatments are surgical. If you are a candidate for surgery, your dentist will first try to treat your condition with non-surgical methods such as oral hygiene instructions, dental floss, and water picks. If these methods fail, then surgery may be required to remove damaged tissue and stimulate new cell growth below the gum line.
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss during middle age. It can affect anyone at any time, but it is particularly common in people who do not take care of their teeth and mouth. The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Both conditions involve the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, including the gums and bone that supports the teeth. However, while gingivitis can lead to serious problems if not treated, periodontitis is responsible for most tooth loss due to gum disease.
Treatment for gum disease may include home care procedures such as brushing and flossing daily and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and cleaning. If you have severe cases of gum disease that cannot be resolved with medical treatment, then dental implants may be an option for you.
A dentist may propose scaling and root planing as the first treatments for receding gums. Plaque and tartar are eliminated from behind the gumline, where brushing alone cannot reach. Root planing is a technique for removing plaque and tartar from the base of teeth. It involves scraping away the soft tissue around the tooth to reveal fresh, bleeding dentin. The dentist may also suggest using an electric scaler to smooth rough edges of the teeth or remove small deposits of material.
Gum recession is when part of the supporting bone and tissue that surrounds and protects the tooth is lost because of disease or trauma. This allows the nerve inside the jawbone to be exposed. Without treatment, the patient would eventually lose all of the protective tissue around the tooth, including the gums. That could lead to pain or infection of the nerve ending.
Receding gums can be caused by inflammation of the gingiva, or gum tissue. This can be due to poor oral hygiene, injury to the mouth area, or even medications that cause gingivitis. When treating patients with receding gums, your dentist will want to prevent further loss of bone and gum tissue by controlling any underlying causes. If you have periodontal (gum) disease, your dentist may recommend seeing a dental hygienist to provide professional cleaning and prevention procedures such as scaling and root planning.
Scaling and root planing is a thorough cleaning performed beneath the gumline to treat gum disease. The goal is to remove any irritants or bacteria from within the pockets of the mouth that may be causing or contributing to the development of tartar or other oral diseases.
This procedure should be done by a dentist, but you can learn how to do it at home with help from a dental assistant. You will need equipment such as ultrasonic brushes, scalers, and polishers. You may also need anesthesia for the pain caused by this procedure.
You can find detailed instructions on how to scale and root planing at the bottom of this article.
Does your dentist offer scaling and root planing? If not, ask about it. It is a good opportunity to discuss other prevention methods with your dentist too!
Most doctors recommend a series of periodic visits during which the patient's teeth are checked and treated for any problems before they become serious.
The first step in treating gum disease is a thorough professional dental cleaning, which involves the following:
Gum grafts are only performed by a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum diseases. Thoroughly scaling, a process that deep cleans the gums and teeth to eliminate germs and tartar, may be performed prior to surgery by the dental surgeon. During the procedure, a portion of healthy tissue will be removed from another area of the mouth and used to replace damaged tissue. This new tissue will then heal into place and continue to support healthy teeth for many years.
In some cases, a gum graft is needed to treat severe damage or disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth. A graft helps to prevent these areas from healing incorrectly and allows them to be treated at one time instead of having to remove these teeth later in life.
Although any type of surgery has risks, gum grafts have very low rates of complication. After the surgery, your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself post-operatively. You should avoid chewing hard foods for several weeks after the operation to allow the graft to heal properly. Some people may need to use cold medicines for pain control; others may require more invasive treatments such as anesthesia or medication-free alternatives.
It is important to receive proper post-operative care so you can enjoy healthy teeth for a long time after your surgery.
Root planing (debridement) may be indicated in some cases of gum disease. This is a thorough cleaning behind the gums that removes germs from the roots of your teeth. You may require a local anaesthetic (painkilling medicine) before the procedure to numb the region. After root planning, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent reinfestation of the site.
Dental implants can be used to replace any lost tooth roots. The implant acts as a replacement for the original tooth root and bone structure. Once placed into the jaw, the implant provides stability until it can be supported by a permanent replacement tooth. Implant therapy is recommended for people who have severe gum disease or wear their teeth hard objects such as nails or hockey sticks.
If you are experiencing pain when chewing or feeling like something is blocking your throat, see a dentist right away. A dental obstruction can lead to serious health problems if not treated promptly. Your dentist may be able to remove the object without having to perform major surgery.
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