Scaling and Root Planing

STOP GUM DISEASE IN ITS TRACKS, PAINLESSLY, WITH LASER-ASSISTED SCALING AND ROOT PLANING

Lasers can be used in dentistry to eliminate or minimize the need for cutting instruments and more invasive techniques. Applications for laser dentistry include periodontal therapies, like scaling and root planing. By using cutting-edge tools like dental lasers, Dr. Mehwish Rashid at Smiles4Life Dental in Visalia, California, provides painless, fast, and highly precise treatment.

THE ABCS OF SRP

Scaling and root planing is often called a “deep clean for your gums.” “Standard” professional cleanings, typically scheduled every six months, remove lingering food particles, bacteria, plaque, and plaque build-up (or “tartar”) from the teeth and gum line. This routine service is well-suited to most healthy patients. However, individuals with gingival inflammation are candidates for SRP, an alternative to standard professional cleaning.

ABOUT GUM DISEASE

Periodontal or gum disease is a progressive condition. It is characterized by gingivitis and periodontitis. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis. The gums surrounding the teeth may be inflamed, redder or darker than usual, swollen, and tender when you touch, brush, or floss them. Periodontitis is the advanced form of periodontal disease. At this stage, the gums pull away from the teeth. Receding gums can make your smile look “toothy.” Increasingly larger spaces or pockets form between them. These periodontal pockets further harbor more bacteria and plaque. Teeth may feel loose. Gaps may appear between teeth, and your bite (how the opposing teeth in the jaws fit together when your mouth is closed) can be adversely affected.

Without treatment, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Advanced gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss. It breaks down the attachments between the teeth and threatens the structure of the teeth and the supporting bone. SRP presents a viable treatment for more minor cases of gum diseases, such as gingivitis. We can stop the disease in its tracks and prevent the loss of gummy tissue, teeth, and bone.

Treatment with SRP is standard and straightforward. We remove bacteria and plaque from below the gum line and smooth out the root surfaces of the teeth. These surfaces attract plaque and disease-causing substances. At Smile4Life Dental, the process is tolerated well by most patients. Lasers present a light-touch, non-invasive, cutting-free way to eradicate bacteria from periodontal pockets and treat delicate tissues. This approach to scaling and root planing further minimize discomfort and other complications following treatment and encourages fast and healthy healing and tissue reattachment.

Do not wait for concerning changes to arise. Call (559) 678-9114 to schedule an appointment at our Visalia, CA office. So, we can protect your teeth and gums and resolve any problems proactively – at their earliest stages before they cause irreparable damage.