Professional Cleaning & Periodontal Therapy
Gum Disease Treatment - Rochester, MN
How We Take Care of Gum Disease
Did you know that periodontal disease, not cavities, is actually the most common dental problem in the world? Better known as gum disease, this infection can cause redness, swelling, oral bleeding, gum recession, halitosis, loose teeth…the list of unpleasant symptoms goes on, and they only get worse without treatment. Fortunately, Rochester smiles in need can get gum-focused care right here at Gentling Dental Care, ensuring that when they leave our dental office, more than just their teeth will be in great shape.
Why Choose Us for Scaling & Root Planing?
- Gum screenings performed at every checkup
- Expert hygiene team
- Able to prevent future infections
What is Gum Disease?
When plaque and bacteria are allowed to build up on your teeth, you get a cavity, but when this happens to the gums, gum disease is the result. Bacteria literally starts breaking down the gums as well as the underlying bone, and as you can imagine, this is very damaging to your oral health! Beyond that, gum disease has also been shown to have a strong connection with several overall health problems, including diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.
Scaling & Root Planing
While untreated gum disease can have serious consequences, we’re more than able to take care of it here at Gentling Dental Care. Scaling involves a member of our team using an ultrasonic cleaner to break up and remove any harmful plaque and bacteria deposits from around the gum line, eliminating the source of gum disease. Then, we’ll gently reshape the roots of the teeth, which is called root planing. This makes plaque less likely to accumulate around the gums going forward, protecting a patient from reinfection.
Scaling and Root Planing - Rochester, MN
Providing a Deep Cleaning to Improve Gum Health
With millions of Americans suffering from some form of gum disease, many of whom are completely unaware, the symptoms and effects can quickly progress, resulting in an increased risk for both oral and overall health problems. If plaque and tartar are left untreated and allowed to spread deep beneath the gum line, your dentist in Rochester will likely employ scaling and root planing in an attempt to stop the infection and improve gum health. At Gentling Dental Care, our dentists are highly-trained to perform this procedure and will help you better manage your gum health at home with useful tips and helpful techniques. To learn more about how you can take back control of your smile and say goodbye to gum disease, contact our office today.
When is Scaling and Root Planing Necessary?
Scaling and root planing are only necessary once your gum disease has progressed beyond the stage of possible reversal. Gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease, can be easily treated and eliminated with regular dental cleanings and healthy at-home oral habits. However, if left untreated, the infection that attacks your soft tissue can spread beneath the gum line and cause pockets to form, causing your gums to pull away from your teeth. This makes it easy for food and bacteria to become trapped.
To prevent possible bone or tooth loss as well as the infection from entering your bloodstream and traveling to various areas of your body, it will be necessary to undergo gum disease treatment in Rochester, also known as scaling and root planing.
Also known as deep cleaning, this common procedure removes harmful plaque and tartar while encouraging your gums to reattach to the tooth root. As a periodontal patient, you will be required to see us more frequently because of the need to prevent reinfection from occurring.
The Scaling and Root Planing Process
The process of performing scaling and root planing is done in two parts. First, your dentist will begin by numbing your gums to prevent and discomfort throughout the procedure. Once you are numb, they will begin to remove hardened plaque and tartar from underneath the gum line. No matter the depth of your gum pockets, they will need to clean as far down as possible to remove the infection.
Once the plaque and tartar are gone, the scaling portion will begin with a smoothing of the tooth root and any rough areas. This encourages the roots to reattach to the gum tissue and prevents bacteria or other toxins from entering and causing additional problems.
It is normal to feel a bit of discomfort after the numbness wears off; however, an over-the-counter pain reliever and cold compress can help to curb this feeling.
Meet Your Award-Winning Doctors
A Qualified Team of Dentists Dedicated to Your Smile
At Gentling Dental Care, we strongly believe that five heads are better than one – that’s why our dental office features a team of knowledgeable doctors who all bring unique strengths and skills to the table! At the same time, they share a similar passion for trustworthy, family-friendly dentistry that always adheres to very high clinical standards. To put it simply, they never perform care that they wouldn’t recommend to their very own loved ones.
Dr. Ryan Henrichsen
Dr. Phil Pattee
Dr. Melissa McColloch
Dr. Erich Eichwald
Dr. Scott Gruwell
See What Makes Us Different
Our Friendly Dental Team Treats Everyone Like Family
1-on-1, Thorough Consultation
Customized Treatment Plan
Every Dental Need Covered
Committed to Continuous Improvement
Our Location
Phone
Address
Working Hours
Monday
8AM - 5PM
Tuesday
7:30AM - 5PM
Wednesday
7:30AM - 5PM
Thursday
7AM - 5PM
Friday
8AM - 12PM
