Gum Disease

Scaling and root planing is a highly effective treatment for stopping the progression of periodontal disease, especially when caught in its early to moderate stages.

It successfully removes the bacteria and irritants causing the infection, allowing the gums to heal and potentially reattach to the tooth roots, reducing pocket depths.

While SRP can significantly improve gum health and prevent further damage, it cannot typically reverse bone loss that has already occurred due to advanced periodontitis.

The goal is to stabilize your condition, prevent further destruction, and maintain the health of the supporting structures of your teeth through ongoing care.

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene at home is critical for preventing the recurrence of periodontal disease after treatment. Professional care must be supported by diligent daily habits.

Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Pay special attention to cleaning along the gumline.

Floss daily to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and under the gumline, areas your toothbrush cannot effectively reach.

Combine consistent home care with your scheduled periodontal maintenance appointments at High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, NJ, for the best long-term results in keeping your gums healthy.

You may begin to notice improvements in your gum health relatively quickly after scaling and root planing, often within a few weeks. Symptoms like bleeding and swelling should start to decrease.

Objective measurements, such as reduced pocket depths, are typically assessed at your follow-up or first periodontal maintenance appointment, usually scheduled a few months after the initial treatment.

Complete healing and stabilization of the gum tissues take time and depend on the initial severity of the disease, your body’s healing capacity, and your commitment to home care and maintenance.

Regular periodontal maintenance visits at High Tech Dentist are essential for monitoring your progress and ensuring the long-term success of your gum disease management.

The number of appointments required for scaling and root planing depends on the severity and extent of your periodontal disease. It is often completed over one to four visits.

To ensure thoroughness and manage patient comfort, the procedure is frequently divided into sections, treating one or two quadrants (sections) of the mouth per appointment.

Doctor K. and your dental hygienist will assess your specific condition during the diagnosis phase and outline the recommended treatment plan, including the number of visits needed.

We strive to make your deep cleaning process efficient while providing the highest standard of care for your gum health at our Hackettstown dental practice.

After completing active periodontal disease treatment like scaling and root planing, regular follow-up appointments, known as periodontal maintenance cleanings, are essential.

These maintenance visits are typically recommended more frequently than standard check-ups, often every 3-4 months. This schedule allows for close monitoring of your gum health.

During these appointments, your hygienist will perform specialized cleaning to remove new plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gumline, preventing disease recurrence.

Consistent periodontal maintenance at High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, NJ, is crucial for long-term success in managing gum disease and preserving your oral health.

Scaling and root planing involves cleaning below the gumline, which can cause some discomfort or sensitivity, especially in areas with deeper pockets or inflammation.

To ensure your comfort during the procedure, local anesthesia is commonly used. This numbs the specific areas being treated, significantly reducing or eliminating pain during the deep cleaning.

After the anesthesia wears off, you might experience mild soreness, tenderness, or sensitivity for a day or two. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage these temporary symptoms.

Our team at High Tech Dentist prioritizes your comfort throughout your periodontal disease treatment, discussing pain management options with you beforehand.

Treating periodontal disease in its early stages, such as gingivitis, is significantly easier and less invasive. Often, it can be managed with improved home care and regular professional cleanings.

Early intervention with scaling and root planing for mild to moderate periodontitis can halt the infection before it causes irreversible damage, like significant bone loss.

Preventing bone loss is crucial for maintaining the stability and longevity of your natural teeth. Early treatment helps preserve your smile and avoid tooth loss.

Addressing gum disease promptly at High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, NJ, protects your oral health and contributes positively to your overall systemic health.

Arestin is a locally delivered antibiotic medication used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in treating periodontal disease. It comes in a powder form containing tiny spheres.

After the deep cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the periodontal pockets, Arestin is placed directly into specific infected pockets. The spheres slowly release antibiotics over several weeks.

This targeted approach delivers a high concentration of medication directly to the site of infection, helping to kill bacteria that may remain after scaling and root planing.

Using Arestin can enhance the effectiveness of your periodontal treatment, helping to reduce pocket depth and promote better healing of the gum tissues.

A regular dental cleaning focuses on removing plaque and tartar above the gumline. It’s primarily for maintaining healthy gums and preventing problems in patients without active periodontal disease.

Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, is a therapeutic procedure. It involves cleaning below the gumline to remove buildup from the tooth roots and within periodontal pockets.

This procedure is necessary when gum pockets are deeper than 3mm, indicating the presence of gum disease, infection, and potential bone loss. It treats the existing condition.

At High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, NJ, we perform a thorough examination to determine whether a regular cleaning or scaling and root planing is appropriate for your gum health needs.

Following scaling and root planing, it’s common to experience some temporary side effects as your gums begin to heal. These may include soreness, tenderness, or mild bleeding of the gums.

You might also notice increased tooth sensitivity, particularly to hot or cold temperatures, as the roots are now cleaner and more exposed.

These symptoms typically subside within a few days to a week. Rinsing gently with warm salt water can help soothe the tissues and aid in the healing process.

Our team at High Tech Dentist will provide you with detailed post-treatment instructions to ensure a comfortable recovery and support the healing of your gums.

A referral to a periodontist, a dental specialist focusing specifically on the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, is necessary for certain cases of periodontal disease.

This includes severe or advanced periodontitis with significant bone loss, complex cases that do not respond adequately to initial non-surgical treatment like scaling and root planing.

Periodontists are also needed when surgical procedures are required to treat gum disease, such as pocket reduction surgery, gum grafts, or bone regeneration procedures.

Doctor K. will evaluate the severity of your condition and recommend a referral to a trusted periodontist if specialized expertise or advanced surgical intervention is needed for your gum health.

Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for periodontal disease treatment procedures, including scaling and root planing and ongoing periodontal maintenance visits.

The level of coverage can vary depending on your specific insurance plan and its benefits structure. Periodontal treatments are often covered at a different percentage than routine preventative care.

Our administrative team at High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, NJ, is experienced in working with dental insurance providers. We can help you understand your benefits and submit claims.

We recommend contacting your insurance company directly or speaking with our office staff to confirm the details of your coverage for periodontal disease treatment.