Periodontal Services
Scaling & Root Planing
A deep cleaning that treats gum disease early, before it affects the bone that supports your teeth.
Scaling and root planing is a cleaning that goes below the gumline. People often call it a “deep cleaning.” It treats gum disease in its earlier stages, before it damages the bone that holds your teeth in place.
How it differs from a regular cleaning
A routine cleaning works on the teeth and just at the gumline. With gum disease, plaque and tartar build up under the gums, and the gums start pulling away from the teeth. That creates pockets where bacteria collect, and a regular cleaning can’t reach the bottom of them. Bleeding when you brush, tender gums, and bad breath that doesn’t go away are common signs.
We measure those pockets and review X-rays before recommending anything. If a regular cleaning is enough, we’ll say so.
Say your gums have bled when you brush for months and your last visit showed a few deeper pockets around the back teeth. That’s the kind of situation where a deep cleaning makes sense. Left alone, those pockets tend to get deeper.
The visit itself starts with numbing the area. Scaling removes the hardened deposits from the tooth and below the gumline. Root planing smooths the root surfaces, which helps the gums heal and reattach. Some people finish in one visit. Others come back for a second, with one side of the mouth done at a time.
The first few days, and the long run
Your gums may feel tender for a few days, and teeth can be sensitive to hot or cold. Over-the-counter pain relief usually handles it. Over the next few weeks, healthy gums tend to feel firmer and bleed less.
Gum disease is a long-term condition, so the results depend on what happens next. Most patients move to a maintenance cleaning schedule, and daily brushing and flossing at home matter a lot. Keeping up with both is the best way to avoid more involved treatment later.
Frequently asked questions
- Is scaling & root planing right for me?
- It's usually recommended when gum disease has moved beyond what a routine cleaning can address, but hasn't yet caused significant bone loss. At your visit we'll measure your gums, review any X-rays, and talk honestly about whether this is the right step for you.
- Is the procedure painful?
- We numb the areas we're treating so you should be comfortable throughout. Some tenderness or sensitivity for a few days afterward is normal and usually eases with over-the-counter pain relief.
- How many visits will it take?
- Many patients are treated over one or two visits, often working one side of the mouth at a time so you're never fully numb. We'll let you know what to expect based on how much treatment your gums need.
- Will I need this done again?
- Scaling and root planing treats existing disease; keeping it from returning depends on ongoing care. Most patients move to a maintenance cleaning schedule, and good daily habits at home make a real difference in whether the treatment holds.