233 Dodge St. Kaukauna, WI 54130
Reaching Beneath the Gumline to Treat Infection
A standard cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the visible surfaces of your teeth, but once gum disease has taken hold, the real problem often lies deeper, below the gumline, where a regular cleaning cannot fully reach. Scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning, is designed specifically to treat this deeper buildup, removing bacteria and calculus from the tooth root and smoothing the surface so gum tissue has the best possible chance to heal and reattach.
At Kaukauna Family Dentistry, we recommend scaling and root planing when a periodontal evaluation shows signs of gum disease that a routine cleaning alone cannot resolve. Patients throughout Kaukauna, Combined Locks, Little Chute, and Appleton trust our team to treat gum disease thoroughly at this stage, before it progresses into something more serious.
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What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing are actually two related procedures performed together. Scaling involves removing plaque and calculus from the tooth surface, both above and below the gumline, using specialized instruments or ultrasonic technology. Root planing goes a step further, smoothing the surface of the tooth root itself, which helps remove bacterial toxins embedded in the root and creates a cleaner surface that allows gum tissue to reattach more effectively.
Together, these two steps address both the immediate bacterial buildup causing inflammation and the underlying root surface conditions that allow gum disease to persist, giving your gums a genuine opportunity to heal rather than simply masking the symptoms temporarily.
How Scaling and Root Planing Differ from a Regular Cleaning
A routine cleaning, technically called a prophylaxis, is designed for patients with healthy gums and typical plaque buildup, focusing on the tooth surfaces above and just below the gumline. Scaling and root planing is a more involved treatment reserved for patients showing signs of periodontal disease, where bacteria and calculus have accumulated deeper along the root surface, often accompanied by gum pockets deeper than what is considered healthy. Because of this deeper reach, scaling and root planing is typically performed with local anesthesia to keep the process comfortable, unlike a standard cleaning.
What Happens During Your Deep Cleaning Appointment
Scaling and root planing is typically completed over one or two visits, often treating one side of the mouth at a time to keep you comfortable throughout.
01
Numbing the area
Local anesthesia is used to numb the gums and teeth being treated, since this deeper cleaning can otherwise be uncomfortable for patients with sensitive or inflamed gum tissue.
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02
Scaling the tooth surface
Using ultrasonic instruments and hand tools, we remove plaque and calculus from above and below the gumline, targeting areas a standard cleaning cannot fully reach.
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03
Root planing
The surface of the tooth root is carefully smoothed, removing bacterial toxins and creating a cleaner surface that discourages further bacterial buildup.
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Rinsing and evaluation
The treated areas are thoroughly rinsed, and we evaluate the gum tissue to confirm the depth and extent of treatment needed.
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Follow up care
We schedule a follow up visit to check healing progress and confirm whether additional treatment or a periodontal maintenance schedule is the right next step.
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What to Expect After Treatment
It is common to experience some tenderness, sensitivity, or mild swelling in the days following scaling and root planing, similar to the discomfort of a bruise as the gum tissue begins to heal. Rinsing with warm salt water and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed can help manage this discomfort. Most patients notice improvement within a few days, with gums appearing less red and swollen as healing progresses. A follow-up visit several weeks later allows our team to measure whether gum pocket depths have improved and determine whether your gums have responded well enough to return to a standard maintenance schedule or whether further treatment is needed.
Signs You May Need Scaling and Root Planing
Certain signs suggest your gums may need more than a standard cleaning to get back to a healthy state:
- Gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing
- Gum pockets measuring deeper than normal during your periodontal evaluation
- Persistent bad breath that does not improve with regular hygiene
- Gums that appear red, swollen, or tender
- Visible tartar buildup below the gumline noted during your exam
- A diagnosis of gingivitis that has progressed toward early periodontitis
Treat Gum Disease Before It Progresses Further
If your periodontal evaluation has shown signs of gum disease, scaling and root planing may be the treatment your gums need to heal. Patients throughout Kaukauna, Combined Locks, Wrightstown, and Freedom trust our team for thorough, effective periodontal care.
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