Scaling and Root Planing in Houston, TX

Periodontal (gum) health is an important aspect of your overall dental health and general well-being. When gum disease interferes with the ability to enjoy a healthy smile, our team at Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 works to stop the disease process and minimize its effects. Scaling and root planing (SRP) therapy is a nonsurgical treatment we offer to treat periodontitis when gum disease has begun to cause the breakdown of the gum and bone tissues that support the teeth. Caused by bacteria that live within plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth and beneath the gums, periodontitis can lead to the loss of bone in the jaw and teeth if left untreated. Our team performs SRP with special scaling instruments to gently remove these deposits and create a healthier oral environment. SRP also allows us to smooth the root surfaces and clean out periodontal pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums). If you have gums that bleed, gum recession, or other symptoms of gum disease, schedule a periodontal consultation with a general dentist at our Houston, TX family practice. We can determine if periodontitis is affecting your oral health and if SRP is a good treatment method for improving your gum condition.

Periodontitis occurs when disease-causing bacteria begin to destroy the bone and gum tissues that support your teeth. Common signs and symptoms of gum disease include bleeding, inflammation, and tenderness of the gums, along with bad breath and gum recession. Our team uses advanced x-rays to learn if gum disease has caused bone loss in your jaw and periodontal measurements of the spaces between your teeth and gums to diagnose periodontitis. If you have bone loss and periodontal pocket readings that are over 3mm in-depth, you may be a candidate for SRP treatment. Leaving gum disease untreated may eventually result in advanced bone loss, tooth loss, and additional health concerns. When gum disease is diagnosed in the periodontitis stage, we may recommend periodontal scaling and root planing near you to treat the condition. Conditions that have progressed to the advanced stage of periodontitis may be better treated with a surgical approach.

While scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical procedure, our team will numb your gum tissues to keep you comfortable while you receive your gum disease treatment. Please let us know if you experience dental anxiety, as sedation services may be used as well to help you relax even further. Depending on the location and the extent of your gum disease, your scaling and root planing procedure near Missouri City, TX may be completed within 1 – 4 visits. After your treatment areas have been numbed, one of our skilled dental hygienists will use ultrasonic and hand scaling instruments to gently and thoroughly remove plaque and tartar accumulation from your root surfaces within your periodontal pockets. These areas will be flushed free of debris, and an antibiotic may be locally delivered right into these spaces to target harmful bacteria. If recommended by us, getting periodontal scaling and root scraping treatment near you as soon as possible may help prevent the progression of the condition and minimize the need for further, more extensive treatment needs.

Post-op instructions on how to care for your teeth and gums as you heal will be provided by our team at the end of your SRP visit. Be sure to wait for the local anesthetic to wear off before you eat to reduce the chance of biting into your soft tissue by accident. Tooth sensitivity and gum tenderness may occur for the first few days following your care. Taking over-the-counter medications and warm salt water rinses can help to relieve these symptoms. The goal of scaling and root planing near Missouri City, TX is to clear the root surfaces of plaque, tartar, and bacteria so that the gums can begin the process of healing and forming a healthy connection once again to your teeth. We also want periodontal pocket depths to shrink, which can help to minimize the spaces where harmful bacteria can hide. Proper and thorough home care with brushing and flossing each day is essential to keeping your gums and teeth healthy. To assist you, our team will provide tips on the best techniques to use and may suggest other home care tools to improve your efforts. Our team is always ready to help you enjoy the healthiest smile possible. After you have received scaling and root scraping treatment, we may recommend a periodontal maintenance program of cleanings on a 3 – 4-month basis to help you manage your gum health.

At Made Ya Smile Dental West 8, we are happy to accept most major PPO dental plans and can help you maximize your benefits for periodontal treatment with periodontal scaling and root scraping near you. Any out-of-pocket costs will be reviewed with you before beginning your procedure, and our team will work to help you find a payment solution that is comfortable for your budget. Our practice takes several flexible payment options, including low- or no-interest financing with CareCredit®.

Is the scaling and root planing procedure painful?
No, the procedure is not painful for most patients. During the SRP treatment, your Made Ya Smile dentist will use some form of anesthetic or sedation to prevent discomfort. While most patients will just need a local anesthetic, some patients who may need more extensive work may be considered for a stronger form of anesthetic or sedation.

What aftercare instructions will I be given following scaling and root planing treatment?
For a period following your treatment, you will likely have more sensitivity in your gums and teeth and be temporarily numb in the treated area as a result of the local anesthetic. As part of your scaling and root planing home-care instructions, the Made Ya Smile team might prescribe antibiotics to eradicate any remaining harmful bacteria in your gums. You must follow a strong oral care routine at home, which includes flossing and brushing at least twice a day. Our Houston, TX area team may also provide you instructions on what to eat after scaling and root planing and what not to do after scaling teeth. Based on the way your gums interact to your first treatment, your dentist may suggest another SRP procedure to better reverse the onset of gum disease.

How long will it take for the gums to heal after scaling and root planing?
After your SRP procedure is finished, some discomfort and irritation are likely, as is sensitivity to hold and cold items. Irritation usually goes away after about a week, but you may feel increased sensitivity on the gums for up to a month.

Though there is no cure for periodontitis, our caring and skilled team can help you get the treatment you need to manage your condition and improve the health of your smile. Symptoms, like gums that bleed, bad breath, and gum recession, may be signaling that gum disease is affecting your health and wellness. By treating periodontitis with experienced and personalized care, you can reduce the risk of bone and tooth loss and may save your smile from a range of other dental needs. Our Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 team offer scaling and root planing near Missouri City, TX as a nonsurgical approach for stopping the progression of periodontitis. Learn more about your options for treatment and whether SRP might help you reestablish gum health by scheduling a visit at our Houston, TX practice.