In some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that don’t respond to more conventional treatment and self-care, may require a special king of cleaning called scaling and root planning.

The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small instrument called a ultrasonic scaler is used to clean beneath your gum line to remove plaque and tartar. The root surface on the tooth are then planed and smoothed.

Scaling and root planning helps the gums reattach themselves to the tooth structure.