Severe periodontal disease can be treated with periodontal or teeth scaling. Dentists do perform this treatment together with root planing. A deeper teeth cleaning is achieved with this procedure than regular teeth cleaning.
More than one dental visit may be needed to get this procedure done. If the periodontal disease is so severe, or there’s the problem of receding gums, teeth scaling may be done under local anaesthetic.
As an outpatient procedure, usually, you may need few days to get better after teeth scaling. However, the days may be more.
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For symptoms of severe periodontal disease, you need teeth scaling and root planing. The treatment can restore health to your mouth by preventing the danger of the condition.
Periodontal disease is severe when the bacteria in plaque separate gums from teeth. This creates wide pockets under the teeth, which may accommodate more bacteria. Conventional teeth brushing cannot remove these bacteria. So, it’s critical to floss as it reaches areas toothbrushes don’t get to.
Severe periodontal disease that isn’t treated can trigger loss of teeth, bone and tissue, moving teeth and loose teeth.
This treatment can be performed at your dentist’s, and following how severe the condition is, you may book single or multiple appointments.
To deal with the discomfort of this treatment, you may get a local anaesthetic or may not. Speak with your dentist about concerns about pain.
Teeth scaling will be done first. Your dentist starts by scraping plaque from your teeth and in the wide pockets formed between gums and teeth.
This is followed by root planing. With a scaling tool, the dentist will make the tooth roots smooth. Your gums can better rebond to the teeth via this smoothing.
If your teeth and gums are not healthy enough, the dentist may advise additional treatment. To fastrack your healing process, you may use dentist-prescribed oral antibiotics over several days. Alternatively, your dentist may use antimicrobial agents in your mouth.
Your dentist may perform host modulation where extra medication is directly applied to your gums to treat the damages done by severe periodontal disease or lower the risk of infection after treatment.
Teeth scaling is done using the usual conventional tools that include a curette and scaler. Lasers and ultrasonic devices can also be used.
Your dentist may also advise complete mouth disinfection. A study done in 2012 concludes that modern teeth scaling tools are as effective as conventional ones.
When it comes to treating severe periodontal disease, teeth scaling and root planing are highly effective. This is because they reduce the pockets between teeth and gums created by periodontitis to a very small fraction.
Consequently, this treatment lowers your risk of losing bone, tissue and teeth as experienced in severe periodontal diseases.
Yes, teeth scaling has risks, but they are low. You have the chance of being infected after treatment which is why the dentist will advise you to use antibiotics or a good mouthwash for days or weeks following the treatment.
Again, sensitivity, pain, and sore gums may be experienced after the treatment.
In a few weeks, any side effects you experience should disappear. Where they don’t, see your dentist immediately.
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It may take more than a single dental appointment to get teeth scaling and root planing. Your dentist may arrange a follow-up visit to ensure the treatment is successful and no complication such as infection has risen.
Where the pockets don’t reduce in size, you may be asked to return for another treatment.
Take care of your teeth and gums after the procedure. You should brush your teeth a minimum of twice daily and floss always. Eat nutritious foods and get regular dental cleaning at your dentist’s to avoid a relapse.
As a matter of fact, you might be booked for a periodontal maintenance cleaning plan where you’ll get regular cleaning every 3 to 4 months as against the biannual cleaning.
Bottom line
Severe periodontitis is commonly treated with teeth scaling and root planing. It can be done at your dentist’s, and you may or may not need a local anaesthetic.
