Gingivitis is a degenerative disease that if left untreated, will cause significant tooth bone and gum deterioration. Just the word "gingivitis" can strike panic in a patient’s mind. The reality is that the treatment is simple and can be performed right in your dentist’s office. Plaque and tartar that sit on the teeth provide an environment which that allow bacteria to thrive and multiply.
Gingivitis is easily treated and the disease is reversible by having the hygienist scale and polish the teeth along with showing patients proper home care.If gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will progress to where the gums start to lose attachment to the teeth and bone. This is when plaque and tartar develop underneath the gums and attach to the root surfaces; and thus, the roots will need a planing.
Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth surfaces above the gum line. Root planing is the process of smoothening removing plaque, tartar and diseased (dead) gum tissue from the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure leaving them smooth for reattachment of gum tissue to tooth/root surfaces.
As a non-surgical procedure, scaling and root planing is performed with or without any anesthesia,(remove the comma) dependent on the patient's stage of periodontal disease and pain tolerance level in the dentist’s office.
This allows time for proper removal of debris and diseased tissue, for adequate healing time, and reduces the time for each appointment for patient comfort.