Nearly half of Australian adults over the age of 35 will be told by their dentist at some point that their teeth need deep cleaning. A deep cleaning refers to a non-surgical periodontal treatment, more commonly known as dental scaling and root planning. Scaling and root planning are oral procedures used to clean out the build-up plaque and tartar in the treatment of gum disease.
According to the Australian Dental Association, approximately 45% of adults over 35 have a severe gum disease known as chronic periodontitis. Usually, this procedure is more costly, uncomfortable, and takes quite longer than normal professional cleaning. Therefore, most patients are tempted to avoid or postpone it altogether. However, the consequences of avoiding this procedure can be severe. Advanced periodontitis can damage your jawbone and gum tissue, thus requiring tissue or bone grafts. So, with these potential dangers, dental scaling and root planning is a necessary treatment.
Why Dental Scaling and Root Planning is Necessary?
In most cases, proper oral hygiene is not enough to prevent dental calculus buildup below the gum line. And so, scaling and root planning is necessary for removal of calculus and plaque from the tooth surfaces as part of a gum disease treatment. When your gums are not properly cleaned, they can get irritated and inflamed. They begin to recede and lose their firm attachment to the tooth. Also, the space between your teeth and the gums widens and becomes deep, hence forming pockets which promote the further accumulation of calculus and plaque. Fortunately, at this stage, the condition is reversible by scaling and root planning treatment.
Further gum infection results in advanced periodontitis which leads to extensive loss of jaw bone and gum tissue. Usually, when this occurs, surgery becomes the only treatment option that can restore and save your tooth. On the other hand, if you still do not seek medical help, your tooth will lose its supportive tissues and finally falling off.
How to Know if you Need Scaling and Root Planning?
You may be recommended scaling and root planning procedure if the dentist diagnoses that your sulcus pockets are deeper than 3 mm. The pockets are measured with a probe during your routine dental check-ups. Also, the dentist can locate build-up plaque and calculus inside these pockets using x-rays. You should visit your dentist straight away if you experience any of these symptoms of gums disease:
- Pain when flossing or brushing
- Gum discoloration
- Swollen gums
- Gum recession
- Red and sensitive gums
- Bleeding gums
- Tooth pain
As usual, the best way to know if you need scaling and root planning is to ask your dentist. He or she can recommend the best solution by identifying the cause of your symptoms.
Bottom Line
If you suspect that you have early stages of gum disease, do not wait and see. Ensure that you schedule an appointment with the dentist immediately. The dentist will be able to know what is going on with your gums and teeth and how to deal with the problem. If you visit the dentist early enough, you may not even need to get scaling and root planning to fix your problem.
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