When you are suffering from gum disease, the best solution is to have the problem treated through scaling and root planing. This treatment will prevent your gum disease from becoming severe. This is a cleaning that is so intense that you may even need a local anesthetic to numb the area.

The Procedure Is Mostly Pain-Free

There are many methods that can be used to perform tooth planing and scaling. Some dentists use an ultrasonic tool to scrape and clean without causing pain and discomfort. The ultrasonic tool chips off the tartar and uses water to wash it away. But if your dentist will not be using this tool, you will instead need a local anesthetic to minimize the pain.

As long as you are given an anesthetic, you should experience very little discomfort during the procedure, despite the intensive cleaning you receive. The cleaning procedure is so intensive that a dentist may only clean one quarter of the mouth per session.

The Typical Scaling and Planing Procedure

It will might take up to four appointments to fully clean your mouth of plaque. First, the dentist performs scaling by removing plaque that has hardened below the gumline. Then, your dentist engages in root planing. This smooths the tooth root to allow the gums to attach to the tooth again.

Antibiotic Fibers Speed Up Healing

Your dentist may place antibiotic fibers in the pockets of your teeth and gums. These speed up healing and reduce the risk of infection. They only have to remain in place for a week and must then be removed.

Recovering From the Procedure

You may experience pain for a day or two after your scaling and planing procedure. You will continue to have sensitivity for a week or two. Your gums may bleed. If you feel that the bleeding is excessive, you should contact your general family dentistry office to find out if you need to return to the dentist.

You may want to avoid brushing or flossing until your mouth has fully healed. You will also want to eat soft foods that are not acidic to minimize the pain. But once you have fully healed, you will have a much cleaner mouth.

Post-Operation Pain Relief

Any pain you experience can be treated using over-the-counter painkillers. If you find that these painkillers are not enough to alleviate the pain, you could ask that your dentist prescribe you a stronger prescription painkiller.

To learn more, contact a dental office like Design Dentistry.