Scaling
Professional Dental Scaling: Keep Your Gums Healthy and Your Smile Bright
At Dentistry at Winchester, we prioritize preventive dental care to ensure your smile stays healthy for years to come. One key service we provide is professional dental scaling, a treatment designed to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and gums, reducing the risk of gum disease and promoting long-term oral health.
What is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is a procedure that focuses on cleaning your teeth above and just below the gum line. Over time, plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) and tartar (hardened plaque) can accumulate on your teeth, leading to gum inflammation, bad breath, and eventually periodontal disease if left untreated. Scaling removes these deposits, helping to restore gum health and prevent further complications.
How is Dental Scaling Done?
During a scaling appointment, your dentist or dental hygienist uses specialized tools, either manual scalers or ultrasonic instruments, to gently remove plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and along the gum line. The procedure is typically painless, and local anesthesia may be used for areas with significant buildup or sensitivity. Once the scaling is complete, the teeth are polished to leave them smooth, clean, and free of rough surfaces where bacteria can accumulate.
Common Misconceptions About Scaling
- Scaling is painful: Most patients experience little to no discomfort, especially with modern techniques and anesthesia options.
- It’s only for people with gum disease: Scaling is beneficial for everyone as part of routine preventive care to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
- It replaces daily brushing and flossing: Scaling is a professional treatment that complements, but does not replace, proper at-home oral hygiene practices.
Scaling vs. Root Cleaning
While dental scaling focuses on removing plaque and tartar from the surfaces of teeth and just below the gum line, root cleaning (also called scaling and root planing) goes deeper. Root cleaning is used for patients with more advanced gum disease and involves cleaning the root surfaces of teeth to remove bacteria and smooth rough areas, promoting gum reattachment and preventing further infection.
In short, scaling is preventative and suitable for maintaining healthy gums, while root cleaning is a therapeutic procedure used to treat early or advanced periodontal disease.
Experience Expert Dental Scaling in Winchester
At Dentistry at Winchester, our skilled dental team ensures a comfortable and effective scaling experience. Regular dental scaling appointments can help you prevent gum disease, maintain a clean and bright smile, and promote overall oral health. Schedule your appointment today to keep your teeth and gums in top condition.
