Remove Plaque and Bacteria Formed on Your Teeth and Gum Line
During any regular appointment to our office you will receive periodontal scaling and root planing. This procedure is done to remove excess plaque and bacteria that has formed on the teeth and around the gum line. Using an ultrasonic scaler, periodontal hand scalers, or curettes, a registered dental hygienist will carefully scrape along the visible surface of the tooth, which removes any plaque and also helps to smooth the tooth surface so it is more resistant to build up in the future.
Depending on the exact condition of the teeth, such as if infection has set in below the gums, the patient may require a deep cleaning. This involves performing scaling and planing on the root of the tooth below the gum line. At Renae Wilson, DDS we always take care to ensure your dental hygienist is very gentle while he performs this, and many patients feel no pain as the tools gently slip between the tooth and gum, but a mild anesthetic is sometimes used if it helps to relieve patient stress. For scaling and root planing in San Diego, contact our office today.