Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning that treats gum disease by removing plaque and tartar from below the gum line, then smoothing the tooth roots so gums can reattach. It is the standard first treatment for periodontitis and is done under local numbing at SEDA Dental, usually across two comfortable visits.
Bleeding when you brush, persistent bad breath, tender or receding gums, and teeth that feel slightly loose are the warning signs. On exam, pocket depths of 4 mm or more with tartar below the gum line confirm it.
A regular cleaning is not enough once disease is below the gum line, and waiting lets bone loss progress silently. Advanced cases may also need our periodontists’ care, from gum disease treatment to gum grafting for recession.
Because scaling and root planing is medically necessary periodontal treatment, most PPO dental plans cover a substantial portion. We verify your benefits first, and CareCredit plus the SEDA Smile Membership Plan handle the rest for uninsured patients.
Expect mild tenderness and some temperature sensitivity for a few days; soft foods and warm salt-water rinses cover it. Keep brushing gently from day one, plaque control during healing is what makes the treatment stick.
The bigger change is your maintenance schedule: periodontal patients typically move to cleanings every three to four months. It is the habit that keeps the disease from returning.
The treatment is done fully numbed. Afterward, expect a few days of mild gum tenderness and sensitivity, usually handled with over-the-counter medication.
Treating one side of the mouth at a time keeps visits comfortable and lets you eat normally on the untreated side while the other heals.
Gums reattach and pockets shrink, but tissue lost to recession does not regrow on its own. For visible recession, gum grafting rebuilds coverage.
Fair question. The diagnosis rests on measurable pocket depths and X-ray bone levels, and we show you both. If you do not need it, we will not recommend it.
Very, for early to moderate periodontitis, when paired with home care and maintenance cleanings. It is the most proven first-line gum disease treatment in dentistry.
Gum disease does not pause. Pockets deepen, bone keeps dissolving, and teeth loosen, painlessly, until they are not saveable. Early treatment is dramatically cheaper and easier.
