Gum Health
Scaling & Root Planing
Deep cleaning below the gumline, done comfortably.
Scaling and root planing is the deep clean that reaches beneath the gumline, removing the hardened deposit and bacterial film that a regular cleaning cannot get to, and smoothing the root so the gum can reattach.
We usually treat one or two quadrants at a time, with the area numbed, so you are comfortable and we are not rushing. Most patients find it far less unpleasant than they had braced for.
Expect some tenderness and cold sensitivity for a few days afterwards, and expect your gums to look and feel different within a couple of weeks as the inflammation resolves.
Ready to book scaling & root planing? Call us and we will find you a time, and tell you what your plan covers before anything starts.
Step by step
What to expect
Numb
The quadrant is anesthetized — there is no reason to endure this one.
Scale
Ultrasonic and hand instruments remove deposit from the root surface.
Plane
The root is smoothed so the gum tissue can reattach to it.
Review
Re-measured after healing to confirm the pockets have closed.
Common questions
Scaling & Root Planing
How many appointments?
Commonly two, treating half the mouth each time. Extensive cases may take four.
Will I need it again?
Not if maintenance visits keep the pockets shallow. Sites that stay deep may need re-treatment or a referral to a periodontist.
Ready when you are
Ask us about scaling & root planing
Call the clinic or send a note and we will talk it through — no obligation, and a written estimate before anything begins.