Gum disease affects close to 65 million Americans every year. At Fashion District Dental in Midtown West, New York City, Justin Rashbaum, DMD, specializes in treating gum disease before the symptoms worsen. Scaling and root planing is the gold standard for getting rid of excess tartar and plaque buildups. Get in touch with Fashion District Dental today by phone or online to learn more about how you can successfully treat gum disease.
Scaling and root planing is an extremely effective dental procedure that eliminates all nefarious plaque and tartar buildups. In doing so, the procedure can prevent the development of dangerous forms of gum disease.
Traditional teeth cleanings are useful for addressing any stains, plaque, or tartar on the surface of the tooth. Scaling and root planing dig below the surface for the best results possible.
Gum disease refers to an infection that occurs in the tissue surrounding your teeth. In most cases, gum disease comes as a result of poor oral hygiene. While Dr. Rashbaum can give you useful tips to maintain proper dental health, untreated gum disease requires more in-depth treatment.
In extreme cases of gum disease, inflammation forces the tissue surrounding your teeth to separate from the root surface. As a result, pockets form below your teeth. These are extremely difficult to clean out on your own and allow bacteria to accumulate and inflammation to worsen.
Dr. Rashbaum recommends that you consider scaling and root planing if you’ve noticed that these pockets have formed below your teeth. As explained above, this typically means that you have an advanced case of gum disease that proper brushing and flossing alone won’t fix.
Some symptoms of advanced gum disease include:
Otherwise called deep cleaning, scaling and root planing is Dr. Rashbaum’s treatment of choice for patients struggling with chronic gum disease.
It’s crucial that you reach out to Fashion District Dental promptly to prevent the bacteria from creating even deeper pockets, as this can ultimately lead to bone and tooth loss.
If Dr. Rashbaum recommends scaling and root planing, it’s because a professional cleaning isn’t enough to empty your pockets.
During the procedure, Dr. Rashbaum first starts by removing the tartar and plaque build-up inside the periodontal pockets.
Once he’s emptied these pockets, Dr. Rashbaum smooths out the root of your teeth. This allows your gums to reattach to the teeth over time. To ensure the utmost comfort, he might administer a local anesthetic.
Keep in mind that depending on the severity of your gum disease, scaling and root planing might take more than one visit to complete.
To learn more about scaling and root planing, book an appointment at Fashion District Dental by phone or online.
