What is Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) Procedure & Its Benefits?

Have you ever visited a dentist for a different reason, yet they recommended professional dental cleaning? You are not the only one. Many patients get such a remark from their dentists because of the dire state of their oral cavity. Every person should undergo a professional dental cleaning procedure at least twice annually. However, many people globally have gone years without even one dental cleaning procedure. Therefore, when you visit your dentist for the first time, they are probably going to recommend a deep cleaning procedure, entailing scaling and root planing.

What is Scaling?

It is a deep cleaning procedure that targets the removal of calculus and plaque attached to the tooth surfaces. A dentist will use an ultrasonic scaling tool, focusing on the bottom parts of your tooth near the gum line. Since tartar does not easily detach from your teeth, the dentist will employ ultrasonic tools that use sonic vibrations to loosen the calculus. Using the same instrument, the dentist will dip the tool into the gum area to remove any plaque and bacteria hiding in the pockets of the gum tissue.

What is Root Planing?

It is a procedure done after scaling, entailing smoothening, and soothing tooth roots. The goal of root planing is to remove cementum, toxins, tartar, and unwanted microorganisms that may be embedded in the tooth’s structure. Your dentist will smooth out the roots, ensuring that your gums can heal properly and reattach to the tooth after cleaning. This process also reduces oral bacteria from colonizing your teeth and gums again in the future.

When Do You Need Scaling and Root Planing?

Various reasons may necessitate a visit to our dentist in Tampa for root planing and scaling. The primary reason is periodontal disease. However, since you may not make that diagnosis on your own, consider the following symptoms as indicators that you need SRP treatment:

1. Yellowed or dull teeth
2. Swollen and tender gums
3. Dental pain in your gums and jaw when you chew food
4. Thick yellowish pigmentations at the base of your teeth near the gum line
5. Bleeding gums – when you brush your teeth
6. Spaces between your teeth that were not there initially
7. Your teeth appear bigger than they are

What Are the Benefits of These Procedures?

The primary benefit of scaling and root planing procedures is to fight periodontal disease. However, the underlying benefits of the treatment include the following:

1. Overcoming Gum Recession – the gum tissue will keep pulling away from your teeth if plaque and tartar keep growing. Therefore, a dentist near you must scrape off the tartar and plaque to allow your gums to repair themselves and heal well.
2. Prevent Weakening of Teeth – the more tooth roots are exposed, the weaker your teeth become. Eventually, you will have shaky teeth that shift their position or start falling off without periodontal disease treatment.
3. Curbing the Spread of Infection – a bacterial infection in one portion of your mouth can spread throughout your oral cavity and even to your body through the bloodstream.
4. Brightening Teeth – sometimes, you only need a deep cleaning treatment to restore the brightness and whiteness of your teeth.

Are Scaling and Root Planing Painful?

Ideally, SRP periodontal treatment cannot be considered an invasive or painful procedure. The treatment targets the removal of plaque and tartar from your mouth. However, due to other underlying symptoms of periodontal disease, you may experience significant discomfort during the procedure. Therefore, our dentists at Bay Premier Dentistry may choose to numb your mouth with local anesthesia before the SRP process.

What Should You Expect After SRP?

Although the treatment will not be painful, you should anticipate some of the following factors:

1. Sore and Tender Gums – it may take a day or two for your gums to stop feeling sore after the treatment.
2. Sensitive Teeth – the dental work involved in SRPs can leave your teeth a bit sensitive. Your dentist should recommend some products to help manage your tooth sensitivity during the first few weeks after treatment.
3. Swollen Gums – your gums will be inflamed due to the dental work, but they should get better after a few days. Meanwhile, use a saltwater rinse to cleanse your mouth and kill any bacteria that may deteriorate the progress of your treatment.

Visit a Dentist Near You

Are you looking for periodontal disease treatment in Tampa, FL? We at Bay Premier Dentistry offer SRP periodontal treatment in Tampa, FL. Call us or book an appointment with us today!