If your gum disease has progressed beyond reversible gingivitis, our dentists in Fort Smith, Rogers, and Springdale, AR, may recommend scaling and root planing. This non-surgical form of gum disease treatment involves a deep dental cleaning that goes above and below the gumline to improve the health of your smile and promote proper reattachment of gum tissue. Taking action when faced with severe decay is important as it can prevent long-term damage, like tooth loss.
Learn more about the role periodontal therapy plays below.
Gum disease can develop silently, but once it progresses to periodontitis, the symptoms become harder to ignore. If left untreated, it can lead to serious oral health issues, including tooth loss. When you visit one of our locations, our gum disease dentists can identify how advanced your condition is and recommend the best course of treatment.
If you’re noticing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek care as soon as possible. Early intervention can prevent more aggressive treatments for gum disease down the line.
Scaling and root planing is a deep dental cleaning procedure that treats the underlying infection of gum disease and helps your gums heal. It’s often the first step once periodontitis has been diagnosed.
The process begins with a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area and keep you comfortable. We’ll then perform scaling, which removes plaque and hardened tartar from above and below the gumline, reaching deep into any pockets that have formed between the gums and teeth.
Next is root planing, where we smooth the root surfaces of your teeth to eliminate rough spots where bacteria collect. This smoothing also helps the gums reattach more securely to the teeth.
Some tenderness and sensitivity are normal after the procedure, but these symptoms can usually be managed with over-the-counter or prescribed medications. The full treatment typically takes 1–2 hours and can often be completed in one visit, though we may recommend splitting it into multiple sessions depending on your comfort and how many areas need attention.
Don’t let gum disease take a toll on your smile. If you’re experiencing any warning signs, our dentists in Springdale, Fort Smith, and Rogers, AR, are here to help with expert care and proven treatments. Call one of our Parklane Family Dental locations today to request an appointment and get your gum health back on track.
