Periodontal

Scaling and Root Planing

Deep cleaning treatment that removes plaque and tartar below the gum line to treat gum disease and restore your oral health.

Close-up of a dental ultrasonic scaler with water supply on a white background.

What Is Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure designed to treat gum disease (periodontal disease) before it progresses. While a regular cleaning focuses on the surfaces of your teeth above the gum line, scaling and root planing goes deeper to remove harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar that have built up below the gums.

This two-part treatment helps your gums heal and reattach to your teeth, preventing further damage to the bone and tissue that support your smile.

Why You Might Need This Treatment

Gum disease often develops quietly. You might notice swollen or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or teeth that feel loose. These are signs that bacteria have settled beneath your gum line, causing inflammation and infection.

Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Scaling and root planing stops the progression and gives your gums a chance to heal naturally.

What to Expect During Your Visit

We want you to feel comfortable throughout the process. We typically use local anesthesia to numb the treatment area, so you won't feel discomfort during the procedure.

Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line and around the roots of your teeth. Root planing smooths the root surfaces, making it harder for bacteria to stick and easier for your gums to reattach.

Depending on the extent of your gum disease, we may treat one or two quadrants of your mouth per visit. Most patients find the procedure much easier than they expected.

Caring for Your Gums After Treatment

Your gums may feel tender for a few days, and you might notice some sensitivity to hot or cold. This is normal and should fade as your gums heal.

We'll give you specific instructions on how to care for your mouth at home, including gentle brushing and rinsing. Follow-up visits help us monitor your healing and ensure your gum health is improving.

With good home care and regular checkups, many patients see significant improvement and avoid more invasive treatments.

How it works

Comprehensive Exam

We measure pocket depths around your teeth and assess the extent of gum disease to create your treatment plan.

Comfortable Numbing

Local anesthesia is applied to the treatment area so you remain comfortable throughout the procedure.

Scaling

We carefully remove plaque and tartar buildup from below the gum line and around tooth roots.

Root Planing

Tooth roots are smoothed to discourage bacteria and help gum tissue reattach to your teeth.

Follow-Up Care

We schedule checkups to monitor your healing and ensure your gums are responding well to treatment.

Common questions

Will scaling and root planing hurt?+

We use local anesthesia to numb the area, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Some tenderness and sensitivity afterward is normal and typically resolves within a few days.

How is this different from a regular cleaning?+

A regular cleaning focuses on the tooth surfaces above the gum line. Scaling and root planing is a deeper treatment that removes bacteria and tartar from below the gums and smooths the tooth roots to help your gums heal.

How long does it take to heal?+

Most patients notice improvement within a few weeks. Your gums should feel less swollen and bleed less during brushing. We will monitor your progress at follow-up visits to ensure your gums are healing properly.

Get in touch — Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Ready when you are — let's get you smiling.

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