Oral hygiene is very underrated. Most people are willing to spend thousands of dollars on their external features like their face, hair, legs, and arms, but they won’t put the necessary effort and money required into oral health. This is why we are unaware of all the treatments available for oral hygiene, one of which is known as dental scaling.
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What Is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is a procedure where you get all the tartar and plaque that has accumulated and set on your teeth and gums removed. Having hardened plaque is a common condition for most people. During this procedure, the dentist aims to remove all plaque, above and below the gum line, from your teeth. You can think of this as an oral deep-clean by professionals.
The Difference Between Dental Scaling And Dental Cleaning
Dental cleaning is not an invasive procedure. In this process, the dentist only cleans the surface of the teeth for plaque and buildup, and there is no gum cleaning involved. In dental scaling, the dentist cleans above and below the gums. The dentist removes every bit of plaque, especially the plaque collected below the gums.
Why Is Dental Scaling Done?
Every person has some form of plaque buildup on their teeth. A thin layer forms from saliva, proteins, and bacteria, which will remain on your teeth at most times. When you eat or drink something, the food particles, sugar, and other proteins stick to this layer and form plaque. This plaque has bacteria that can decay and damage teeth and gums, respectively, which is why you should brush and floss daily. Occasional dental cleanings are also recommended to keep healthy oral hygiene.
What Happens When This Plaque Is Not Removed?
When plaque buildup is not removed, healthy gums start to bleed and slowly start receding. If you have healthy teeth and gums, you will notice that your gum tissues fit perfectly around your teeth to keep plaque out. If you have unhealthy teeth and gums, the gum tissues loosen. Healthy gums are attached 1-3 mm below the gum line to the teeth, but in case of any gum disease, these gum pockets start deepening to form a “v” like structure and start filling with plaque. This condition can lead to sensitive gums, blood, and bad breath.
Dental Scaling Cons
- In the case of sensitive gums, the patient may experience gum bleeds for 2-3 days after the procedure.
- The success of the procedure depends solely on the aftercare, such as flossing, brushing, etc.
- Dental scaling is not a cure for periodontal disease since there is no cure for periodontal disease.
- The patient might require local anesthesia
- Multiple sessions may be necessary to treat major gum disease.
- This procedure might lead to receding gums, changing the appearance of your overall smile and mouth.
Should You Get A Dental Scaling?
Now that you know all the pros and cons related to dental scaling, you can make an informed decision. In case you still have your doubts, then consider getting your dentist’s opinion. In case of gum disease, your dentist is most likely to advise a dental scaling procedure, but if you do not suffer from any major dental problems, then a minor dental cleaning will be more than sufficient.
Conclusion
If you suffer from periodontal disease, getting a scaling and root planing is the best option. Through root planing, you can reduce the gum pockets by .5 millimeters minimum. If you opt for this procedure, you will be required to make multiple checkup appointments to monitor the conditions. Aftercare is a major part of dental scaling and root planing. The procedure plays only a 50% role in the overall result, and the aftercare plays the other 50%. Dental scaling is a very simple and straightforward process. It does involve several instruments to remove plaque from the gums but nothing poky or sharp.
If you are still unsure about the procedure, talk to your dentist and have them explain the entire procedure, the requirements, the time scale, and the aftercare. Ask your questions and clear your doubts. Do not rush into it. Like every other medical procedure, this too will require your utmost dedication to show good results.
