Beyond a Standard Cleaning: What to Expect During Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing at Perio Atlanta

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, a standard dental cleaning may not be enough to remove buildup beneath the gumline. Periodontal scaling and root planing is a deeper, non-surgical treatment designed to clean the teeth and root surfaces where harmful bacteria and hardened deposits can accumulate. At Perio Atlanta, we provide scaling and root planing in Atlanta to help manage gum disease and support healthier gums.

How Is Scaling and Root Planing Different From a Regular Cleaning?

A routine dental cleaning focuses primarily on removing plaque and tartar from the visible surfaces of the teeth and around the gumline. Scaling and root planing goes deeper.

Periodontal disease can create pockets between the gums and teeth where bacteria, plaque, and calculus collect. These areas can be difficult to clean effectively with brushing, flossing, or a standard professional cleaning.

During periodontal scaling, we carefully remove deposits from the crowns and root surfaces of the teeth. Root planing addresses the root surfaces below the gumline, helping create a cleaner environment where the gum tissue can begin to heal.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Before recommending scaling and root planing, we evaluate your periodontal health to determine the extent of gum disease and which areas require treatment. Depending on your needs, treatment may focus on specific sections of the mouth rather than the entire mouth at once.

During your appointment, you can generally expect:

•          Local anesthetic may be used to keep you comfortable during treatment

•          Plaque and hardened calculus are carefully removed from affected tooth and root surfaces

•          Root surfaces are thoroughly cleaned to reduce areas where bacteria can collect

•          Aftercare instructions are provided to help support healing and continued periodontal health

Our Atlanta periodontal team works carefully to make treatment as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

What Happens After Scaling and Root Planing?

Some patients experience temporary gum tenderness or tooth sensitivity following a deep cleaning. As the gums heal, inflammation may decrease and the gum tissue may fit more closely around the teeth.

Good home care is especially important after periodontal scaling and root planing. Brushing properly, cleaning between the teeth, and following our recommendations can help control the bacteria associated with periodontal disease.

We may also recommend periodontal maintenance appointments after treatment. These ongoing visits allow us to monitor your gum health and remove buildup from areas that can be difficult to manage at home.

Treating Gum Disease Beyond the Surface

Periodontal disease affects the tissues supporting your teeth, so treating it requires more than simply polishing the visible tooth surfaces. Scaling and root planing addresses buildup below the gumline and may be an important step in controlling periodontal disease before more advanced treatment becomes necessary.

If you have bleeding gums, persistent inflammation, deep periodontal pockets, or have been told you need a deep cleaning, schedule an evaluation with Perio Atlanta to learn whether periodontal scaling and root planing is right for you. Contact our office in Atlanta, Georgia, by calling (404) 352-3123 to book an appointment today.