Everyone knows that oral hygiene is important when it comes to maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile and mouth. But how do you know if you’re doing everything you can to protect your teeth and your gums?
At 101st Adult Dentistry, we know that many of our patients are concerned about their oral health, especially as they get older. One common age-related oral health problem is periodontitis, also known as gum disease.
When we spot gum disease in our patients, we have to change our approach to cleaning from “regular cleaning,” which involves a simple polishing of teeth, to a “deep cleaning,” which involves the actual removal of bacterial colonies from the mouth and gums.
Scaling and Root Planing Are Essential to Restoring Healthy Teeth and Gums
Bi-annual dental visits involve both polishing and light scaling of the teeth and gumline—a procedure that’s designed to remove plaque and tartar.
However, patients who have gum disease require a more intensive procedure called scaling and root planing. This procedure is known as a deep cleaning, and it’s the go-to treatment for periodontal disease.
Scaling and root planing often requires multiple appointments, and local anesthetic may be required to minimize discomfort. The scaling that takes place during these appointments is a more intensive version of the scaling procedure that’s done during bi-annual checkups, only it’s designed to remove significantly more plaque, bacteria, and tartar deposits from both the outer surfaces of teeth and their roots in the gumline.
Root planing is the second step, and it involves smoothing all of the rough areas on the surfaces of the roots of your teeth. This step is essential for preventing further or future buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar from accumulating underneath the gumline. That allows the gums an opportunity to heal and to become more strongly attached to the roots of your teeth.
Patients who have advanced cases of periodontal disease may require surgical intervention, especially if their periodontitis has progressed to the point that it has resulted in bone loss in the upper or lower jaws.
We’re Clarksville’s Choice for Regular and Deep Dental Cleanings
Dr. Hnarakis is a board-certified Periodontist and has been treating patients with periodontal disease for over 20 years. Whether you need bi-annual cleanings to stay on top of your oral health, or you think you may be suffering from gum disease and need more intensive treatments, we’re here to help.
At 101st Adult Dentistry, we’re always accepting new patients, and we’re looking forward to meeting you. To book an appointment at our Clarksville office, call us today at (931) 906-8800 or use our online form.