Scaling and Root Planing in Houston, TX

Periodontal health is important for everyone, and our team at Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress is pleased to help our patients achieve and enjoy a comfortable and beautiful smile after being diagnosed with gum disease. To treat periodontitis, our dentist and team offer scaling and root planing (SRP) as a nonsurgical therapeutic approach to halting the disease. Periodontitis is the result of bacterial toxins that cause bone loss in the jaw, which is the structure responsible for holding your teeth in place. Plaque and tartar deposits that accumulate below the surface of the gums are the ideal environment for the bacteria that cause gum disease. With SRP, our team can use special instruments to get below the gumline to remove deposits that hide harmful organisms, smoothing root surfaces and encouraging gum healing in order to minimize the spaces between the teeth and gums (periodontal pockets). Signs or symptoms in the gums like bleeding, inflammation, and recession can indicate that gum disease is affecting your health. This disease can greatly increase your risk of tooth loss and other harmful outcomes, so it is important to schedule a consultation to help you find out if periodontitis is present in your mouth. If you're looking for periodontal scaling and root planing near you, we urge you to contact Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress — we can help you determine whether scaling and root planing therapy from our Houston, TX team is the right choice for treatment.

Gum disease can destroy the gums and bone that surround the teeth and lead to tooth loss if left untreated. To find out the details of your periodontal health, high-definition digital x-rays will be taken and we will measure the spaces between your gums and teeth, which are called periodontal pockets. X-rays will show whether gum disease has caused bone loss in your jaw, and the periodontal measurements let us know if these pockets are deeper than 3mm. When appearing together, these indicators may show the presence of the periodontitis stage of gum disease. Other symptoms like bleeding, inflammation, tenderness, and recession of the gums may also be a symptom of periodontitis. Bad breath may also be a sign of the presence of disease-causing bacteria. To treat periodontitis and bring health back to your gums and teeth, scaling and root planing may be recommended, or our team may suggest a surgical procedure if the condition is in the advanced stage of periodontal disease.

It takes 1 – 4 visits to undergo scaling and root planing depending on where in your mouth active periodontal infection is present. For your comfort throughout your treatment, we will numb your gums with local anesthetic. Sedation services are also available to you if you feel anxious or fearful when visiting the dentist. Whatever the type of care you are receiving, your comfort and safety are our priority. When your gums are completely numb, our team will begin the process of removing plaque and tartar from your tooth surfaces beneath the gums. Your pockets (space between teeth) will be flushed clean, removing loose debris, and we may place antibiotics within these pockets to control bacterial growth. Early treatment with scaling and root planing care for your periodontitis can support you as you manage your gum health and protect your smile from the risk of tooth loss and other problems.

After your scaling and root planing procedure, we will go over instructions on how to manage any post-op discomfort and share optimal techniques to care for your teeth and gums in the future. Sensitivity to hot or cold and gum tenderness may be present for the first couple of days after this procedure. SRP eliminates plaque and tartar from root surfaces to help your infected gums heal and reattach to your teeth. This process shortens the depth of your periodontal pockets, which reduces the areas for destructive bacteria to live and damage your oral health. Meticulous daily brushing and flossing can keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible and go a long way toward maintaining periodontal health and preventing active infections. We will show you the optimal technique to use at home after your scaling and planing procedure and are always available to answer questions and provide support. To support the health of your gums, teeth, and bone after treatment for gum disease, we may recommend regular periodontal maintenance and cleaning visits every 3 – 4 months.

Some coverage for scaling and root planing periodontal treatment for gum disease is usually available from dental insurance plans. Our business staff will contact your provider to discover your particular benefits and let you know of any personal costs for your treatment. We provide several easy payment options, including low-cost financing with CareCredit®, to make dental care from Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress as affordable as possible. We are available to work with you to help you find a treatment option that fits comfortably within your budget.

Does scaling and root planing hurt?
Scaling and root planing is a multi-appointment process. This is necessary because the mouth needs time to heal after each appointment before moving on to the next phase. During these treatments, we will use a local anesthetic to help you remain comfortable. While you likely won't notice much pain during the treatment, you will likely experience a bit of soreness the few days following your appointments.

What are some specific scaling and root planning home-care instructions to follow?
Prior to sending you home after scaling and root planing, we will provide you with specific at-home care instructions. After root scraping, we suggest you avoid eating until you have normal feeling back in your mouth to avoid harming yourself. We also recommend brushing your teeth carefully and gently after your procedure. If you have any other questions after your scaling and root planing in Houston, TX, feel free to contact our office.

What can you eat after scaling and root planning?
We suggest you maintain a soft-food diet after your scaling and root planing treatment. This includes foods like apple sauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and more.

Periodontitis cannot be cured — but our experienced team can treat your gum disease and help you return to better long-term oral health. Early treatment is vital to protecting your smile from bone damage and tooth loss, among other concerning dental problems, in the future. Our dentist and staff at Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress team are pleased to offer non-surgical scaling and root planing therapy for patients at our Houston, TX practice suffering from periodontitis. If you have experienced bleeding gums, gum inflammation, or lingering bad breath, get started treating the source of these symptoms through effective, customized care.