Gum Disease & Bad Breath
Scaling & Root Planing
The non-surgical treatment that resolves the large majority of gum disease.
What it is
Scaling removes the hard deposit above and below the gum. Root planing smooths the root surface underneath it, so the gum has something clean to reattach to.
It is done under local anaesthetic, quadrant by quadrant or in a single longer visit if you would rather get it over with. Ultrasonic instruments do most of the work, with hand instruments finishing the root surface where the ultrasonic cannot reach. Expect it to take considerably longer than a routine scale and polish, because it is a different procedure.
Afterwards the gums are tender for a few days and may look as though they have shrunk — that is inflammation resolving rather than damage, and it is the point of the exercise. We reassess the pockets at three months and set your ongoing interval from what we find.
Included
What this
involves
Everything below is carried out here, by the clinician who planned it. Anything not on this list is either not needed or will be discussed with you before it is booked.
- Local anaesthetic as standard
- Ultrasonic and hand instrumentation
- Quadrant or full-mouth appointments
- Post-treatment care instructions
- Three-month reassessment
- Home-care technique coached
Most of what we do here is quiet, preventive and never noticed. That is roughly the point.
Common questions
Good To Know
- Does it hurt?
- Not during — it is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards expect a few days of tenderness and some sensitivity to cold, both of which settle.
- Why do my teeth look longer afterwards?
- Because swollen gum tissue has shrunk back to its true level. It looks alarming and is actually the treatment working; sensitivity settles over a few weeks.
- How many appointments will I need?
- Commonly two, sometimes four, depending on how much is involved. You will be told the number and the total cost before we start.
More in this area
Gum Disease & Bad Breath
Considering scaling & root planing?
Come in for a consultation. We will examine, explain and give you a written plan with a price against every item — then you decide, in your own time.