Dental Scaling

Are there any alternatives to dental scaling and planing?

I'm told I have periodontal disease, and it sounds like doing the scaling and planing will be complicated, going back for cleanings often, etc. Is there any thing else that can be done?

Public Comments

1. In a nutshell: no. For severe cases, periodontal surgery can be carried out - but this is only after scaling, root planing, and improving oral hygiene hasn't given satisfactory results. Basically, you have a build up of tartar and cementum on the roots of your teeth - tartar is hard, mineralised plaque that doesn't shift with a toothbrush; and cementum is a natural glue that holds your teeth in bone. Because the bone has receded due to the tartar, the cementum is still sitting on the roots of your teeth, trapping plaque, which becomes tartar, and inflames your gums, which in turn breaks down bone further... a really vicious circle. This can be broken by cleaning away all this unnecessary gunk from the roots of your teeth very carefully with precise instruments. Unfortunately, this takes time, but think positive - the bone levels can build back up and the gums re-attach properly, preventing problems like mobile teeth which would have to be extracted. The best thing to do is attend all of your scaling appointments, and really pay attention to all the advice the dentist/hygienist gives you about keeping your teeth clean, as this will have a really positive impact on the prognosis of your teeth. All the best!