Scaling & Root Planning

Halting periodontal disease in the earliest stages 

Scaling and root planing, also sometimes known as deep dental cleaning, is one of the first treatments Dr. Tim may recommend if you are diagnosed with periodontal disease. Scaling and root planing helps to eliminate infection and prevent further damage before your condition develops to the point where you require more complex and invasive treatments to get your gum disease under control.

The goal of scaling and roto planing is to remove the harmful substances in your mouth that contribute to gum disease, thereby minimizing periodontal disease and helping to keep it under control. There are two main steps in a scaling and root planing treatment:

1. Scaling – in the first step of your treatment, our dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the tooth surface.
2. Root Planing – In this step, we will clean the roots of your teeth to remove plaque and bacteria toxins. We will finish by smoothing the tooth roots to help prevent bacteria from recolonizing and to encourage the healing process.

Most scaling and root planing procedures can be completed comfortably without anesthetic. However, we will happily provide local anesthetic and other options to help you feel comfortable during treatment if needed.

Your treatment may be divided into several appointments. Our dentist will target and treat specific areas of the mouth during each appointment at our office. We may also combine your scaling and root planing procedure with other periodontal therapies to maximize the benefits of treatment.

We welcome you to contact the office of Timothy Rothwell at 405-728-7632 if you have any questions about scaling and root planing in OKC, Oklahoma, or to schedule an appointment with our skilled dentist.