Is Scaling and Root Planing Painful?
Nobody wants their dentist to tell them that they need additional procedures when they go in for a simple check-up. Scaling and root planing are two procedures that your dentist may recommend, however, if she or he finds evidence of gum disease when examining your teeth and gums. While often referred to simply as a “deep cleaning,” scaling and root planing are the actual procedures performed to remove built-up plaque and tartar from the teeth both above and below the gumline. This is an important procedure that can prevent much more severe problems in the future, so if your dentist recommends that you schedule a deep cleaning, it is imperative that you heed this advice.
Why Scaling and Root Planing Can Be Uncomfortable
Scaling and root planning are not necessarily painful procedures. They can generate some discomfort during the deep cleaning and some increased tooth and gum sensitivity in the following days and weeks.
That is because scaling and root planing address dental calculus built up in the small pockets where gum disease has caused the gums to pull away from the teeth. These small spaces in which tartar has taken hold must be accessed with special instruments so that the tartar can be thoroughly removed. These include both dental scalers and curettes, the thin dental instruments that your dental hygienist regularly uses to scrape tartar off of your teeth during the course of a regular dental cleaning. It might also include a hand-held ultrasonic device, which helps break up large pieces or “boulders” of tartar.
In a deep cleaning involving scaling and root planing, these instruments must be used beneath the gums' surface to root out the calculus built up in these small pockets, which can be uncomfortable. Root planing also occurs in these small pockets underneath the gumline, during which your dentist will use a special tool to flatten out the roots of affected teeth so that your gums are once again able to attach to the teeth as they should.
Treating Discomfort Associated with Scaling and Root Planing
There are things that your dentist can do to prevent unnecessary discomfort during the procedure itself. First of all, she or he will likely recommend sectioning off one part of the mouth to treat at one time. It is not uncommon to divide the mouth into halves or even quadrants when scheduling deep cleanings. Working in smaller sections can make the procedure easier for most patients.
Furthermore, your dentist may choose to administer a mild local anesthetic to increase your comfort during the procedure further. This will not necessarily make your mouth completely numb. Still, it will make the discomfort of the procedure much more manageable.
Lastly, your dentist may recommend some products and steps to help ease the pain and increased tooth sensitivity experienced in the days and weeks following a scaling and root planing procedure. Using a desensitizing toothpaste in tandem with gently brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush can help ease the pain, which should subside after a few weeks.