Periodontics
Scaling and Root Planing in Los Angeles
The clean that goes below the gum line, because that is where the problem is.
Once plaque has formed pockets under the gums, a routine polish cannot reach it. Scaling and root planing can, and at Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry it is the treatment that stops periodontitis progressing.
Below the gum line
What it is and why it is different
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and along the gumline. Scaling and root planing goes further — down into the pockets that have formed between the gums and the roots, which is where the disease actually lives. Debris and bacteria are removed from those areas, and the root surfaces are then smoothed so the gum tissue has something clean to reattach to and bacteria have less to hold on to. The distinction from an ordinary cleaning is not thoroughness but reach. No amount of careful brushing, and no routine polish, gets underneath a gum that has already detached from the tooth; that is why the condition needs a different treatment rather than more of the same one.
- Scaling Removing the deposits from the tooth and root surfaces below the gum.
- Root planing Smoothing those root surfaces, so the gum tissue can reattach and bacteria have less to hold on to.
- The result Infection eliminated, pocket depths reduced, and further progression prevented.
When it is needed
When it is needed
When gum disease has reached periodontitis — the second stage, which is treatable but not reversible. As plaque builds, it forms pockets under the gum line, and those must be professionally cleaned. See gum disease for the three stages and how they differ.
What happens afterwards
Deep cleaning is the treatment; keeping the result is a separate ongoing job. That is periodontal maintenance — a different recall interval from an ordinary exam and cleaning, because the pockets that were treated need watching.
Where deep cleaning is not enough
Where pockets are deep, flap surgery gives access to clean the underlying structures thoroughly. Where bone has already been lost, grafting or guided tissue regeneration may follow.
The short answer
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning for periodontitis that removes debris and bacteria from the pockets between the gums and the roots of the teeth. Scaling removes the deposits from the tooth and root surfaces below the gum line, and root planing then smooths those surfaces so the gum can reattach and bacteria have less to hold on to. The treatment eliminates infection, reduces pocket depths and stops the disease from progressing further.
Scaling and Root Planing FAQ
- How is it different from a regular cleaning?
- Scaling and root planing reaches below the gum line, while a regular cleaning works on the teeth and along the gumline. It goes into the pockets that have formed between the gums and the roots, which is where periodontitis actually lives. The difference is reach rather than thoroughness. No routine polish gets underneath a gum that has already detached from the tooth.
- Why do the pockets matter?
- Gum pockets matter because they hold debris and bacteria that a toothbrush and a routine clean cannot reach. That trapped material is what keeps the infection going. As plaque builds, it forms these pockets under the gum line, and they must be professionally cleaned. Removing the deposits and smoothing the roots is what allows the pockets to reduce.
- Will my gums recover?
- Periodontitis is treatable but not reversible, so the aim is to control the disease rather than undo it. What deep cleaning achieves is eliminating the infection, reducing pocket depths and preventing further progression. Smoothing the root surfaces gives the gum tissue something clean to reattach to. Where pockets are deep or bone has been lost, further treatment such as flap surgery, grafting or guided tissue regeneration may follow.
- What happens after?
- After scaling and root planing comes periodontal maintenance, a closer recall interval than an ordinary checkup. Deep cleaning is the treatment, and keeping the result is a separate ongoing job. The pockets that were treated need watching so they stay under control. Your maintenance schedule is set according to how your gums respond.
