Professional teeth cleaning and scaling and root planing are two dental cleaning treatments that help protect your oral health and beautiful smile. But what’s the difference and how can you know which treatment you need?
At Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, Abir Faraj, DDS, offers both types of cleaning treatments to help every patient prevent oral health problems and enjoy a healthy smile at every age. Here’s what Dr. Faraj wants you to know about these very different treatments and how they’re used.
Daily brushing and flossing are important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but twice yearly you need a comprehensive cleaning that can only be provided by your dentist.
Twice-yearly professional dental cleanings are an important preventive treatment to remove built-up deposits of plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing can’t.
Getting rid of these deposits also removes the harmful bacteria they contain, reducing your risks of both cavities and gum disease (and the tooth loss it can cause). Plus, the end-of-cleaning polishing helps your smile look naturally beautiful.
Beyond the cleaning itself, these regular visits allow our team to look for developing problems so we can prevent their progression.
They also give us a chance to check for early signs of oral cancer and provide other preventive care, like dental sealants or fluoride treatments to help strengthen your enamel and prevent future problems.
Scaling and root planing involve more intensive cleaning methods aimed at helping people with advanced stages of gum disease prevent the disease from progressing. These techniques focus on cleaning the portion of your teeth below your gums, down to the root pocket.
Scaling uses special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your tooth surfaces, eliminating bacteria that can cause more serious stages of gum disease (as well as tooth loss). It’s similar to the plaque- and tartar-removal techniques used on the visible parts of your teeth but more focused on those deeper tooth surfaces below your gum line.
Root planing uses other tools to gently smooth your tooth roots, getting rid of rough spots that make it easier for bacteria to cling to your teeth. Smoothing the root surfaces also helps your gum tissue reattach more quickly, restoring the barrier that helps prevent bacterial migration.
Scaling and root planing are performed using local anesthesia to completely numb your gums. After your treatment, Dr. Faraj provides aftercare instructions which may include the use of special germ-killing mouth rinses to manage inflammation, promote healing, and prevent further disease.
Both professional cleaning appointments and scaling and root planing play important roles in helping you maintain your oral health. The key is having regular checkups to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment based on your needs.
To learn more about these and other preventive care therapies or to schedule a checkup, call 313-646-7903 or book an appointment online at Novi Family Dentistry today.
