Is Scaling and Root Planing Painful?
If you haven’t kept up with your routine dental cleanings, your dentist may recommend a dumfries dental scaling treatment. Dental scaling is a professional deep cleaning procedure used to treat and prevent gum disease. During the dental scaling procedure plaque and tartar buildup are removed from your teeth to help the gums return to a healthy state. If you have scheduled a scaling and planing procedure, you may be in search of more information and wondering what you should expect from the procedure. Below is more information about dental scaling and root planing.
Why Is Dental Scaling Necessary?
Everyday eating and drinking causes plaque to build up along the gumline. Plaque brings bacteria along with it that accumulates along the gumline and causes gum disease. This bacteria irritates the gums. When bacteria is left untreated, it causes the gums to recede and pull away from the teeth. Pockets will form between the teeth and the gums where more plaque and bacteria can hide. Dental scaling is a non-surgical cleaning procedure that is more aggressive than a standard dental cleaning. Fortunately, gum pockets and gum disease are reversible. Scaling can play an important role in helping the gums return to a healthy state and saving them from advancing gum disease. The more advanced step in this aggressive cleaning treatment procedure is root planing, which involves the smoothing of the tooth root below the gumline to help the gum tissue reattach to the tooth.
Does the Dental Scaling and Root Planing Procedure Hurt?
Because the scaling and planing procedure is more invasive and the work occurs below the gumline, the dentist may take some preventive steps to help reduce the chances of the procedure being painful. In general, the procedure should not cause pain, however, the dentist may do any of the following to minimize potential pain:
- Prior to the procedure, the dentist will use a local anesthesia to numb the gums and tooth roots.
- During the procedure, the dentist will use special tools designed to remove the plaque buildup from the teeth both above and below the gumline. These tools help to make the procedure less invasive.
- After the procedure, the dentist may recommend a special tooth paste to help with tenderness and inflammation that may be caused by the procedure.
- If the scaling and planing is more invasive, the dentist may break the procedure up into several appointments to make it less painful and reduce discomfort.
Risks of the Dental Scaling Procedure
Dental scaling and root planing is a common non-surgical dental procedure, however there are some potential risks of the procedure it is important for patients to be aware of. To help minimize risks, it is important for your dental professional to know your oral health history. The procedure can be invasive, and it is possible for bacteria from the mouth to get into the bloodstream. If you have a weakened immune system or you are at increased risk for infections, you may need to take additional precautions prior to having the procedure.