Did you know that nearly half of adults over the age of 30 are suffering from gum disease at one severity or another? The good news is that this infection of the soft tissues in your mouth is preventable and treatable. Just because you notice signs of gum disease doesn’t mean that you need to go forward with poor oral health. Dr. John E. Petty provides thorough cleanings to restore your gums to health. If you have noticed signs of gum disease and think you may benefit from scaling and root planing, give us a call! We’d be happy to answer your questions and schedule you for an appointment.
Gum disease develops when there is an excess of harmful bacteria that infect your gums. Over time, these bacteria gradually erode the bone and tissues that support your teeth. Gum disease has two different stages:
It is our goal to detect gum disease and developing a treatment plan early on to prevent oral health problems from occurring in the future. This is why Dr. Petty always checks your smile for common symptoms of gum disease during each of your regular checkups.
Scaling and root planing is used for cases of early to moderate gum disease to help reverse symptoms. By minimizing the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth by clearing them away, you allow your immune system to help fight off the infection and keep it from progressing. When left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious dental problems, like gum recession, loose teeth, and tooth loss.
This treatment will generally take place over one or two appointments depending on how advanced your gum disease is. First, our team will start by removing all plaque and tartar accumulation on the surface of the teeth. This is what is known as “scaling.” Next is the “root planing” part of the treatment. This is when we remove any hardened deposits of tartar on the roots of the teeth. This step allows your gum tissue to reattach to the teeth, providing the roots with much-needed protection. Ultimately, we want to eliminate the need for you to endure highly invasive treatments to prevent damage to your smile in the future.