For patients who have not had a professional dental cleaning for some time, additional deep cleaning may be necessary to improve the health of the teeth and gums. In these cases, the dental provider may recommend a teeth scaling procedure. Dental scaling is a treatment designed to fight early gum disease by removing plaque and tartar buildup below the gumline. Below are more details about the dental scaling procedure.
Why Are Professional Dental Cleanings Important?
Professional dental cleanings by a certified oral hygienist are an essential part of maintaining optimal oral health. Even with diligent daily brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar still build up along the gumline and in areas that are difficult to reach. It is recommended that all adults get their teeth professionally cleaned every six months.
Do I Need a Teeth Scaling Procedure?
For individuals in the early stages of gum disease, teeth scaling may be the most efficient solution to restoring gum health. Everyday eating and drinking leads to the buildup of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky, bacteria-filled film that causes gum disease and tooth decay. Daily oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, is important to reduce plaque; however, what many people don’t realize is that professional cleanings are still essential to remove plaque and tartar in difficult-to-reach areas. If not removed, plaque and tartar will begin to accumulate below the gumline, irritating the gums and potentially causing tooth decay. This problem is compounded when the gums start pulling away from the teeth, creating small pockets between the teeth and gums that allow even more plaque to build up and bacteria to grow, further worsening gum health.
If your dentist identifies that your gums are pulling away from your teeth and that pockets have developed, they will likely recommend a teeth scaling procedure to provide a deeper cleaning, remove accumulated plaque, and slow the progression of gum disease.
Teeth Scaling Procedure
For some patients, routine dental cleanings are not enough to remove excess plaque and tartar buildup, and dental scaling is recommended to address early gum disease. Teeth scaling is not a part of a routine dental visit, but an additional treatment that is typically scheduled as a separate visit. During the scaling procedure, the hygienist uses handheld instruments to scrape plaque and tartar from the teeth and below the gumline. The hygienist may also use an ultrasonic instrument that employs gentle vibrations and a water spray to break up and flush away plaque. The scaling process is slow and meticulous, with the hygienist working carefully to minimize discomfort and irritation while achieving as thorough a cleaning as possible. Once the plaque and tartar deposits have been removed, the hygienist may perform a root planing procedure. During this procedure, the surface of the tooth root is smoothed to make it more difficult for plaque and bacteria to collect and to encourage the gums to reattach properly.
Overall, the goal of the teeth scaling and root planing procedures is to restore the health of the teeth and gums and reverse early-stage gum disease.
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