What Is Dental Scaling?
When you hear your dentist say that the most appropriate treatment for your issue is dental scaling, you might ask what it is and how it is done. Find out about dental planing why it may be necessary.
Gum Disease
Since gum disease is quite rampant, cases can range from mild to stubborn. First of all, gum disease results when plaque forms on teeth. Accumulated plaque is referred to as tartar. This sticky film of bacteria, when not properly eliminated with daily oral hygiene, can cause inflamed gums. Swelling gum tissue tends to pull away from teeth and form pockets into which plaque can enter and get entrapped. As such, it cannot be removed by just plain brushing. If left untreated, your condition can lead to soft tissue destruction and bone loss.
If your case is early gum disease, a simple and straightforward professional cleaning can stop the advance. However, for cases of stubborn gum disease, dental scaling is recommended to prevent the condition from becoming worse. Plaque tends to accumulate along the gum line and below it. It can cause the gums to swell a bit and wedge between the tooth and the gum forming pockets. Dental scaling removes plaque and cleans up those areas to restore the health of the gums.
Dental scaling is quite common and is non-invasive or non-surgical. While the standard professional cleaning also aims to remove plaque and tartar on teeth, scaling cleans also below the gum line.
For scaling, two types of dental scaling instruments are used by your dentist or your dental hygienist. Scaling can be done by hand-held instruments. A dental scaler and a curette are held manually to remove or scale plaque from teeth and below the gum line. By means of touch, rough spots are identified as plaque or tartar and these are carefully removed.
Another instrument that does the same thing is the ultrasonic type. The vibrating metal tip of this instrument chips off the plaque, breaking it into tinier pieces while a water spray washes them away. The water also cools the tip so that it doesn’t overheat.
Remember that to keep your gums healthy, prevent plaque from building up by being consistent with your daily oral hygiene.
SourceDental Scaling By Lynnwood Dentistry
When you think you might have gum disease, see your Lynnwood dentist as soon as possible. Let’s make a serious assessment to know if you may be a candidate for dental scaling.
