Scaling And Root Planing in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Palm Spring, Coachella Valley, Cathedral City, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley, Indian Wells

As part of periodontal maintenance and treatment for gum disease, our dental professionals perform scaling and root planing at our Rancho Mirage office. It can be recommended as a preventive measure against gum infection or as cure for gingivitis or moderate periodontitis. The process involves use of specialized dental instruments that clear tarter and ensure that there are lesser chances of bacterial infection of gum tissues. Local anesthesia is used during the course to numb the gums, the roots of teeth and supporting bone. Our dentist may recommend multiple visits to complete scaling and root planing procedure. For more information on the treatment, make an appointment and visit our dental office.

Scaling and Root Planing – The procedure

Scaling is a process that clears tarter from the surface of teeth above and below the gum-line. Tarter is the hardened form of plaque that harbors bacteria. The bacteria can inflame and infect the soft tissues. Special instruments are used to remove tarter in a step-by-step process. Dental professionals normally recommend two or more visits to complete the procedure, since they complete a quadrant or half of the oral cavity in each phase of the treatment.

Root planing process involves smoothening the surface of the teeth roots. The process clears rough spots that can attract bacteria. The combined scaling and root planing procedure is a painless, thanks to local anesthesia. After the completion of the treatment, the dentist/hygienist may use anti-microbial agents to destroy the bacteria. Our team recommends necessary post-operative care after the treatment. Patients may feel numbness in the gums after the procedure is complete. The teeth may feel sensitive to hot and cold food. The team may recommend pain medicines and salt water or chlorhexidine rinses to ensure quicker healing.

Perio-Probing