Root Planing

Difference between dental cleaning and root planing

The health of your mouth is very important to your general health. It is not just a matter of fighting cavities. Regular dental care cleanings remove plaque and calculus (tartar) and stains from teeth. This dental care works well for patients who have not experienced bone loss, periodontal disease or infection around the teeth.

On the other hand, root planing and deep scaling are the most common form of treatment for gingivitis and periodontal disease which remove toxins and bacteria from the root surfaces of your teeth. Ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments are generally used. If you have periodontal disease, the procedure may take several appointments to complete the treatment and halt the condition. Sometimes it is accompanied with local antimicrobial therapy.

After the disease process is under control, regular cleaning may not be appropriate; rather you may need periodontal maintenance to maintain healthy gums and teeth.