Treatment
Scaling & Root Planing
A deeper clean below the gumline, for gums that need more than a routine cleaning can offer.
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths the tooth root, treating the early and moderate stages of gum disease before bone loss becomes serious.
We numb the area for comfort, then use ultrasonic and hand instruments to clear buildup from the pockets between gum and tooth, reaching where a routine cleaning cannot. The root surface is smoothed so gum tissue can reattach more easily. Treatment is often done in sections over one or two visits.
Left untreated, gum disease progresses quietly and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Removing the bacteria and buildup driving the inflammation lets the gums heal, reduces pocket depth, and protects the bone and teeth underneath, including any cosmetic or restorative work already in your mouth.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Scaling & Root Planing.
Patients whose gums bleed easily, feel puffy or tender, or who have been told at a cleaning that pocket depths have increased. It is also common for patients returning after a long gap between dental visits.
More thorough than a routine cleaning and typically done with local anesthetic so the area stays comfortable throughout. We usually treat one half of the mouth at a time so you are not numb everywhere at once.
Each session runs about an hour, and most patients need one to two visits to complete both sides of the mouth. A follow-up a few weeks later checks healing and pocket depth.
Scaling and root planing treats the disease that is present; it does not undo bone already lost. Ongoing maintenance cleanings, usually more frequent than the standard six months, are what keep the results and are part of the plan, not an upsell.
Gums may feel tender and slightly sensitive to temperature for a few days, and mild bleeding when brushing is normal briefly afterward. Most patients are back to normal eating the same day. We check healing at the follow-up visit and adjust the maintenance schedule based on what we find.
Get Your GLOW On
Your smile deserves this kind of attention
A boutique practice in Aliso Viejo, built around smile design, comprehensive care, and the kind of unhurried attention that makes dentistry feel different. We would love to meet you.