Scaling and Root Planing in Cleveland, OH

At MINT dentistry in Cleveland, OH, our team believes that all patients, regardless of age or background, deserve a healthy and beautiful smile. We want to help you avoid dental problems by performing regular checkups and dental cleanings, but if you develop symptoms of periodontal disease, a standard cleaning may not be enough. MINT dentistry uses modern tools and techniques to help stop periodontitis through SRP, or scaling and root planing therapy. SRP is a nonsurgical procedure done by one of our MINT dentistry practitioners to clear away plaque and tartar that has accumulated under the gumline, within the spaces between your teeth and gums. This therapy is designed to help treat active gum disease, heal your gums, and boost the health of your gums. If you have reason to believe you are suffering from gum disease, schedule a consultation at our modern practice in Cleveland, OH. Whether your mouth is already healthy or you have signs of gum disease, MINT dentistry can help you achieve sexy teeth with experienced, professional care.

A harmful oral bacteria that thrives in the buildup of tartar and plaque can cause the soft tissues to separate from the teeth and the jawbone to break down; this is known as the periodontitis stage of gum disease. During your dental examination, our skilled MINT practitioners will measure your periodontal pockets and capture digital x-rays to examine the amount of bone surrounding your teeth. When the depths are over three millimeters and we can see bone deterioration on your images, we may recommend scaling and root planing treatment. The first signs of gum disease are chronic bad breath, loose teeth, and swollen and tender gums that have started to become red, bleed easily, or recede. When gum disease is diagnosed in the earliest stage, scaling and root planing can reduce these symptoms, but if it has progressed to later stages (advanced periodontitis), you might require a different procedure to address your oral health needs.

A local anesthetic will be used to keep you comfortable during your deep periodontal cleaning with scaling and root planing (SRP) at our Cleveland, OH office. Your dentist may also recommend one of our sedation dentistry techniques to help you with stress or anxiety. To start your SRP treatment, you can enjoy relaxing in a massaging treatment chair. Once you've put on a set of Beats headphones and selected some music, we'll give you our signature MINT sunglasses to help you feel at ease. Once you've been prepped, a member of our dental team will implement hand and ultrasonic instruments to scale the plaque and tartar that have built up in the periodontal pockets. Our team will then skillfully plane (smooth) the root surfaces. Leaving behind a healthy, smooth surface encourages the soft tissues to grow back against the tooth surfaces and decrease where oral bacteria can live.

Once your scaling and root planing treatment is complete, you may experience some numbness in your mouth until the local anesthesia wears off. You'll also likely have tenderness in your gum tissues and tooth sensitivity for the next few days. Our MINT dentistry practitioners will talk with you about guidance on caring for your teeth and gums during the healing phase. You should maintain a proper oral care regimen at home daily, which includes daily flossing and brushing, to keep your smile healthy and bright. Our Cleveland, OH practitioners may suggest periodontal maintenance visits to help discourage periodontitis and help stop active periodontal conditions from arising. Scheduled 3 – 4 times a year, periodontal maintenance visits are performed in place of six-month dental cleanings and enable us to watch your periodontal condition.

Because scaling and root planing is often used to treat gum disease, a portion of the costs is typically covered by your dental policy. If you are using dental insurance, our financial coordinator will speak to your insurance company to learn about your policy's specific coverage and then calculate your out-of-pocket costs. For patients who don't have dental insurance, MINT dentistry in Cleveland, OH is dedicated to making necessary oral health treatments affordable by taking many different methods of payment, including low-interest financing, which we can tell you about in your initial consultation. Ask a member of our team for more information on the MINT Discount Plan, which helps you afford treatments like scaling and root planing so you can have sexy teeth.

Don't let gum disease damage your oral health and keep you from having a stunning smile. If periodontal disease is diagnosed in the periodontitis stage, the condition can often be controlled with SRP therapy. Don't hesitate to get in touch with MINT dentistry in Cleveland, OH to find out your treatment options for gum disease by scheduling a consultation. The board-certified dentists at MINT dentistry perform treatments like scaling and root planing to help you get a healthy, luminous smile.