Gingivitis is an inflammatory disease that left untreated, will cause significant tooth and gum deterioration. Just the word gingivitis can strike panic in a patient’s mind. The reality is that the treatment is simple and performed right in your dentist’s office.
Plaque and tarter that sits on the teeth provides an environment, which allows bacteria to thrive and multiply. The bacteria cause the gums to become inflamed and bleed. The condition becomes more noticeable when you brush your teeth or sometimes when you eat. These are signs of the early stage of gingivitis. Gingivitis is easily treated by having the hygienist scale and polish the teeth.
If gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will progress to periodontitis and the roots will need a planing as well as scaling. The difference between scaling and root planing is simple. Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth or root surface. Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure.
Scaling and Root Planing is a very effective periodontal therapy. As a non-surgical procedure, scaling and planing is performed in the dentist’s office. It is often necessary to numb the area for complete patient comfort. Deep scaling and root planing is usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment (4 quadrants are treated)
. This allows for adequate healing time, and reduces the time for each appointment to provide the most comfortable experience.