How often do you need scaling and root planing?

Most periodontists recommend scaling and root planing twice a year or more, depending on the severity of your gum disease. In fact, some patients are seen every 3 – 4 months.

What qualifies for scaling and root planing?

Tight pockets are required to hold the tooth roots securely in place. Most dentists will recommend scaling and root planing is the pocket depth is more than five millimeters. Performing the procedure when the gum pocket is only between five or six millimeters can help stop bone tissue and tooth loss.

Is scaling and root planing preventative?

Scaling and root planing may be combined with other types of periodontal therapy, such as antibiotic treatment. For most patients, scaling and root planing is enough to prevent periodontal disease from progressing further.

What are the limitations to prophylaxis and scaling and root planing?

* The most common limitation is two per 12-month period or calendar year. Additional scalings are optional and may be charged to the patient. Scaling should not be reported in conjunction with prophylaxis, scaling and root planning, or debridement procedures.

Can a dental hygienist do scaling and root planing?

Scaling and root planing teeth, provided by either your dentist or dental hygienist, may take more than one appointment to complete, and a local anesthetic is often used to minimize any discomfort. Some periodontists compare scaling and root planing to having an irritating splinter removed from an infected finger.

Can a general dentist do scaling and root planing?

General dentists can perform both the scaling and root planing parts of the procedure. Some dentists may recommend their patients see a periodontist if their teeth are in need of more work. If your dentist recommends a periodontist, it is worthwhile to ask why.

What qualifies a patient for SRP?

If you’ve never heard of this procedure, that’s a good thing; this means you’ve exercised proper teeth and gum care, and you don’t have gum disease or periodontal disease, an infection that erodes teeth, muscle and bone. If your dentist recommends SRP, it means you have symptoms of gum disease or periodontal disease.

How do I know if I need root planing?

If the gums bleed as part of the daily hygiene routine of brushing and flossing, it indicates the need for scaling and root planing. Blood from the gums directly points to the presence of bacterial growth below the gum line.

Is root planing same as deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning is also known as scaling and root planning. Removing plaque and tarter from the teeth’s surface and gum pockets is known as scaling, while root planning involves removing plaque and tarter from the surface of the roots.

Can you do a prophy before SRP?

A new patient can receive their comprehensive exam with the prophy on the same day if it’s indicated and the patient is healthy. If there are one or more quadrants that need SRP, it is still recommended that you complete the prophy on the first visit and schedule the patient back for the quadrant scaling.

When do you do SRP?

IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR SRP? Occasionally known as a deep cleaning, scaling and root planing is usually performed on Charlotte, NC patients after they are diagnosed with gingivitis. The first stage of periodontal (gum) disease, gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue caused by a buildup under the gumline.

Is scaling and root planing the same as deep cleaning?