Patient Reviews

5/5

Friendly, knowledgeable, and caring staff. They made me feel at ease as a new patient. I'm glad I found a very good dentist office.

M. Chateain, Bayview Patient

5/5

Great dental services! Everyone in the practice is friendly and professional and attentive to the patients needs and concerns.

Larry Sekei, Bayview Patient

5/5

Cares about patients. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. Scheduling was easy. The practice is outstanding and deserves 10 stars!

Nadine Audi, Bayview Patient

5/5

Made me comfortable knowing I had a lot of anxiety Everything was explained really thoroughly which made me feel even more at ease

P. Dunigan, Bayview Patient

5/5

Dentist and dental tech are very kind and professional. Work is done gently . Great experience.

J. Harrington, Bayview Patient

5/5

Staff is wonderful, Alex does a great job cleaning my teeth 😁 I'm not one that enjoys the dentist but Bayview makes me feel at ease. Thank you!!

S. Frederick, Bayview Patient

5/5

First visit. Everyone was so nice and made me comfortable knowing I had a lot of anxiety Everything was explained really thoroughly which made me feel even more at ease.

K. Palacios, Bayview Patient

5/5

Excellent customer service. Extremely kind, courteous and caring about their patients. They do an awesome job communicating the treatment and patient out of pocket cost for a procedure.

R. Greene, Bayview Patient

5/5

Great dentist. Thorough, explained everything, reasonable pricing, warm and friendly staff. So happy I found you.

R. Kupferberg, Bayview Patient

Root Scaling & Planing

Deep Teeth Cleaning

Treatment for periodontal disease typically begins with a deep cleaning that involves scaling, root planing, or both. These non-surgical procedures work by clearing away the substances responsible for gum irritation and infection, primarily dental plaque and hardened tartar, also called calculus. Scaling and root planing can serve as a complete treatment on their own or as a preventive step, and they are frequently used to address gingivitis as well as moderate to advanced periodontal disease.

What Do the Procedures Entail?

Before recommending scaling and root planing, our doctors evaluate the mouth carefully, which can involve a visual assessment along with X-rays. Whether the treatment is appropriate depends on several factors: the overall condition of the gum tissue, how much tartar has accumulated, how deep the periodontal pockets measure, and how far the disease has progressed. A local anesthetic is sometimes used to keep patients comfortable during the appointment.

Scaling:

Scaling clears hardened calculus and plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, with particular attention to the areas hidden beneath the gum line along the root. The procedure is carried out using an ultrasonic scaling instrument, which often includes an irrigation feature. That feature allows an antimicrobial solution to be delivered underneath the gums, helping to lower bacterial levels during treatment.

Root Planing:

Root planing addresses the layers of cementum and surface dentin that have become contaminated with bacteria, toxins, and tartar. Smoothing the root surface encourages the surrounding tissue to heal and makes it more difficult for bacteria to gain a foothold and recolonize later on.

To further limit the bacteria that produce toxins and drive periodontitis, we may suggest antibiotics or irrigation with antimicrobial rinses or chemical agents. In certain cases, antibiotic fibers are placed directly into the periodontal pockets once scaling and planing are finished, which can help bring infection under control and support proper healing.

Deep pockets between the teeth and gums present a particular challenge, since they make complete removal of plaque and tartar difficult for the provider and nearly impossible for patients to manage at home. When that is the case, surgical treatment may be necessary to restore periodontal health.

Benefits of Treatment

When scaling and planing is successful, the periodontal benefits can be significant. One is a reduced risk of complications beyond the mouth. Research has associated bacteria from periodontal infections with conditions elsewhere in the body, including heart and respiratory disease, since those bacteria are able to enter the bloodstream. Scaling and root planing removes bacteria linked to these conditions.

Protecting the natural teeth is another benefit. Once periodontal pockets grow deeper than 3mm, the likelihood of periodontal disease rises. Deeper pockets create more space for bacteria to multiply, which can trigger a chronic inflammatory response in which the body breaks down gum tissue and supporting bone. Tooth loss follows.

There are cosmetic and everyday benefits as well. Scaling and planing lifts superficial stains from the teeth and typically improves breath by clearing out the trapped food particles and bacteria that cause odor.