Why should I attend my dentist regularly?
Possible treatment alternatives will be explained to you at your consultation appointment. This is the best time to ask any questions you may have. Our aim is always to preserve teeth if possible and advisable.
The most common form of treatment consists of Scaling and Root planing.
Scaling refers to the professional removal of soft plaque and hard calculus (tartar) from the teeth and around the gum line. It is undertaken using hand instruments (scalers or curettes) and/or sonic/ultrasonic instruments which use high frequency vibrations to help remove these deposits.
Root planing is really an extension of scaling, which involves removing deposits from under the gum line. This is usually undertaken once the gum tissues are numbed with a dental anaesthetic, so that the treatment can be performed painlessly. The aim is to provide a clean, smooth, tooth and root surface in order that the gum tissue/ attachment has a chance to heal.
Scaling and root planing may sometimes be combined with the use of antibiotics to assist in the management of the gum infection.
