Scaling & Root Planing - Oakdale, PA | Pittsburgh, PA

Halt the Progression of Gum Disease

Scaling and root planing animation

Why Does Gum Infection Occur?

If you’ve been noticing your gums bleed easily when you brush and floss or that they appear red and swollen, you may have gingivitis. This is the first stage of gum disease, a progressive condition characterized by inflammation of the gum tissue from bacteria and infection below the gumline. When teeth are not properly cleaned, the sticky plaque left on the teeth hardens into tartar. A buildup of this calculus releases bacteria that infect the gums, causing them to become inflamed and pull away from the teeth.

The deepening periodontal pockets around the teeth will trap more plaque and bacteria in areas that can no longer be reached with brushing and flossing at home. As gum disease progresses, the bacteria and infection spread and irreversibly harm gum tissue, bone, and eventually teeth. When caught early, at the first signs of gingivitis before oral structures have been damaged, our team at Advanced Dentistry offers a procedure called scaling and root planing in Oakdale, PA that can effectively halt this dangerous progression and keep your mouth healthy long-term.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Tender, swollen gums
Bright red gums
Bleeding gums
Gum recession
Bad breath
Sensitive teeth
Loose teeth

Know the Stages of Gum Disease

Treating Infection at the Source

The purpose of scaling and root planing is to fight bacteria and infection at the source—the periodontal pockets around your teeth. This is not a surgical procedure, but depending on the case, we may invite you back to our Oakdale, PA, practice for multiple appointments and provide a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. During the procedure, we will first use a dental scaler to scrape away the tartar buildup on the exposed surface of each tooth and below the gumline within the periodontal pockets. Removing this tartar reduces the presence of bacteria and can help halt the spread and progression of infection.

Next, we will complete root planing where we smooth the rough spots on tooth roots. This makes it more difficult for bacteria to become trapped in the grooves and helps healthy gum tissues reattach to the teeth. If needed, we may also administer antimicrobial agents within the periodontal pockets or prescribe oral antibiotics you’ll take for a few days to reduce the chances of infection progressing. We will continue to monitor infection of your gum tissues during each visit with our dentist in Oakdale, PA, and provide special “deep” cleanings to ensure the long-term health of your smile.

Healthy Smiles for Life

Gum disease is a dangerous condition that has both oral health and systemic health consequences when not properly treated and monitored. To ensure this disease does not affect your health and function, we provide both scaling and root planing and ongoing periodontal maintenance. Our team at Advanced Dentistry has years of experience in these procedures and has helped countless patients in the Oakdale, PA

area successfully treat or manage their gum disease with our routine care.

We don’t want anything to prevent you from receiving this necessary care. That’s why we partner with numerous insurance companies and will file your claim on your behalf. Keeping your smile healthy also relies on your dedication to keeping your smile clean and infection-free at home, too. When you practice proper oral hygiene care and continue to receive targeted treatment from our experienced team, we can together help keep your smile healthy for life.

Showing signs of gingivitis?

Schedule your gum disease treatment today.