Scaling and Root Planing: Banish gum Sensitivity and Get a Healthier Smile

Dental care isn’t just about your teeth—your gums matter, too. So, if you have gum disease, take action immediately before the condition progresses. Westmoreland Family Dentistry is excited to offer scaling and root planing to patients in Augusta, Evans, Hephzibah, North Augusta, Grovetown, Waynesboro, Georgia, and beyond. This non-surgical treatment addresses moderate to advanced periodontal disease to maintain a healthy, infection-free smile.

What are scaling and root planing?

Sometimes, brushing and regular dental cleaning aren’t enough. Think of it like this: you wouldn’t just sweep the floor if dirt was hiding under the rug. Scaling and root planing remove plaque, tartar, and other nasties from areas your conventional methods can’t reach.

Scaling and root planning (SRP) is often called a “deep cleaning,” which is a two-part, non-surgical procedure that stops gum disease in its tracks and gives your gums a fresh start.

  • Scaling: Gum disease starts as a mild infection on the surface of the gums. However, over time, the infection spreads beneath the gum line, creating deep pockets that are hard to reach with your toothbrush. Scaling removes built-up plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line to achieve a healthy, infection-free smile.
  • Root planing: The dentist smooths the root surfaces to remove rough patches. This makes it harder for bacteria to hide in the future and helps your gums reattach to the teeth.

Deep teeth cleaning is all that is needed for many cases of periodontal disease. However, the dentist can sometimes combine it with topical antibiotics to deal with harmful bacteria for good. In rare cases, you may need surgical interventions, especially when the pockets are too deep, or the gum and bone tissues are irreparably damaged.

What can I expect from scaling and root planing?

Dr. William Westmoreland will prioritize your comfort to ensure a seamless experience. Before treatment, we’ll numb the area to keep you comfortable. Most patients say it feels more like a long cleaning than a procedure. Depending on your needs, the dentist will treat one section at a time.

After the procedure, your gums might feel a little tender—but that’s just a sign they’re beginning to heal. You may also experience mild bleeding and tooth sensitivity. Our team will give post-op instructions to ensure an event-free recovery. Pain medications and home remedies like rest and ice application help you manage discomfort better.

We’ll also give you easy-to-follow instructions on diet and oral hygiene to support optimal healing and prevent the recurrence of the infection. Healing after scaling and root planing takes about 5-7 days. However, full recovery of the gums may take 2-3 weeks or more, depending on the severity of the infection.

What are the benefits of Augusta deep teeth cleaning?

SRP does more than clean your teeth—it kick-starts healing. With the bacteria gone and your root surfaces smoothed, your gums can reattach to your teeth to restore full periodontal health. 

Its benefits include:

  • Effective, non-surgical treatment
  • Fresher breath
  • Protect your smile from further damage
  • Improved systemic health

Is it time to recover your periodontal health?

Scaling and root planing may not sound glamorous, but it could be what you need to maintain a healthy smile. Optimize your oral health today with non-surgical deep teeth cleaning at Westmoreland Family Dentistry. Call (706) 535-2300 and book your visit!