Scaling and root planing in Rockville, Maryland, is a nonsurgical periodontal treatment used to remove plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits from below the gumline. This type of deep cleaning may be recommended when gum disease has created periodontal pockets that cannot be adequately treated with a routine dental cleaning.
Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession, tenderness, and changes around the teeth may be signs that infection or hardened deposits are present beneath the gums.
Dr. John Savukinas has completed more than 1,500 periodontal therapy and gum disease cases. He evaluates periodontal pocket depth, the condition of the tooth roots, gum inflammation, and the health of the surrounding bone before determining whether scaling and root planing is appropriate.
Concerned that you may need a deep cleaning in Rockville, MD?
Call 301-738-1155 or request a periodontal evaluation online.
What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing is often referred to as a deep dental cleaning. Unlike a routine cleaning, this periodontal treatment focuses on plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits located beneath the gumline and around the tooth roots.
The procedure has two related parts:
- Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits from the teeth and root surfaces above and below the gumline.
- Root planing cleans and smooths affected root surfaces to create an area that is easier to keep clean as the gums heal.
Scaling and root planing does not replace tissue or bone already lost to advanced periodontal disease. However, it may help control periodontal infection, reduce inflammation, and slow further damage when combined with effective home care and professional maintenance.
Why a Regular Dental Cleaning May Not Be Enough
A routine dental cleaning focuses primarily on plaque and tartar around the visible portions of the teeth and gumline.
When periodontal disease develops, spaces between the teeth and gums can deepen. These spaces are called periodontal pockets. Bacteria and hardened tartar can collect inside the pockets and along the tooth roots where brushing, flossing, and a standard preventive cleaning may not reach effectively.
A periodontal deep cleaning may be recommended when an examination shows:
- Periodontal pockets deeper than healthy gum measurements
- Tartar deposits below the gumline
- Bleeding during brushing, flossing, or examination
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Gum recession
- Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste
- Changes in the bone supporting the teeth
- Loose teeth or changes in the bite
If your periodontal condition requires care beyond nonsurgical treatment, Dr. Savukinas can also discuss other forms of periodontal treatment.
How Scaling and Root Planing Works
Treatment focuses on thoroughly cleaning the areas beneath the gums where periodontal bacteria and hardened deposits have accumulated.
Scaling Below the Gumline
During scaling, dental instruments are used to remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth and roots, including areas inside periodontal pockets.
The goal is to remove deposits that cannot be eliminated with brushing, flossing, or a routine cleaning.
Cleaning and Smoothing the Root Surfaces
Root planing cleans areas of the tooth roots affected by bacterial deposits and toxins.
Smoothing irregular or contaminated root surfaces can make the area easier to keep clean and may allow inflamed gum tissue to heal more closely against the tooth.
When Is a Deep Cleaning Needed?
Not everyone with bleeding gums needs scaling and root planing. The recommendation depends on what Dr. Savukinas finds during a periodontal examination.
A deep cleaning may be considered when gum disease has progressed beyond mild inflammation and bacteria or tartar are present below the gumline.
Signs that warrant a periodontal evaluation include:
- Gums that bleed regularly
- Red, swollen, or tender gum tissue
- Gums pulling away from the teeth
- Teeth that appear longer because of recession
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Sensitivity near exposed tooth roots
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Changes in the fit of a partial denture
These symptoms do not determine the severity of gum disease on their own. An examination and periodontal measurements are needed to determine whether scaling and root planing, routine preventive care, or another periodontal treatment is appropriate.
How Gum Disease Develops
Gum disease often begins when bacterial plaque remains around the teeth and gumline. The bacteria can irritate the gums and cause redness, swelling, and bleeding.
In its earliest stage, gum inflammation may improve with effective home care and professional cleaning.
When infection progresses beneath the gumline and begins affecting the tissues and bone supporting the teeth, the condition is called periodontitis.
Untreated periodontitis may contribute to:
- Deeper periodontal pockets
- Gum recession
- Bone loss around the teeth
- Tooth movement or looseness
- Changes in the bite
- Eventual tooth loss
Because periodontal disease may progress without significant pain, regular dental and periodontal evaluations remain important even when your teeth feel comfortable.
What to Expect at Your Periodontal Evaluation
Before recommending scaling and root planing, Dr. Savukinas will evaluate the gums, tooth roots, and structures supporting your teeth.
Your evaluation may include:
- Measuring periodontal pocket depths
- Checking for bleeding and inflammation
- Identifying tartar above and below the gumline
- Evaluating areas of gum recession
- Checking tooth mobility
- Reviewing dental images for signs of bone loss
- Discussing tobacco use, medications, and health conditions
- Reviewing your brushing and interdental cleaning routine
These findings help Dr. Savukinas determine which areas require deep cleaning and whether treatment should be completed in one appointment or divided into sections.
Will Scaling and Root Planing Hurt?
The gums and tooth roots may already be sensitive when inflammation or deep deposits are present.
Local anesthesia can be used to numb the treatment area and improve comfort during scaling and root planing.
Treatment may be completed one section of the mouth at a time. Dividing care into separate appointments can allow each area to be cleaned thoroughly while helping you remain comfortable.
After a deep cleaning, you may temporarily notice:
- Gum tenderness
- Minor bleeding
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Spaces between teeth appearing more noticeable as inflammation decreases
Dr. Savukinas will provide instructions based on the extent of treatment and the condition of your gums.
Healing After Scaling and Root Planing
As inflammation decreases, the gums may become firmer and bleed less easily. In some areas, the tissue may fit more closely against the cleaned tooth surfaces.
Healing varies according to:
- The severity of periodontal disease
- The depth of the periodontal pockets
- The amount of tartar and inflammation present
- Tobacco use
- Medical conditions
- Daily plaque control
Following scaling and root planing, you may be advised to:
- Brush gently but thoroughly
- Clean between the teeth every day
- Use a recommended rinse as directed
- Avoid tobacco products
- Follow dietary instructions if your gums are tender
- Attend your recommended follow-up examination
Do not stop cleaning an area simply because it feels tender unless Dr. Savukinas has instructed you otherwise. Plaque control remains important during healing.
Reevaluating Your Gums After a Deep Cleaning
Follow-up is an important part of scaling and root planing.
After the gums have had time to respond, Dr. Savukinas may remeasure periodontal pockets and check for bleeding, inflammation, and remaining deposits.
The reevaluation helps determine whether:
- Inflammation has decreased
- Periodontal pocket measurements have improved
- The treated areas are easier to maintain
- Additional localized treatment may be needed
- More frequent periodontal maintenance is appropriate
- Advanced periodontal care should be considered
Some areas respond well to nonsurgical periodontal therapy, while deeper or more advanced areas may require additional treatment.
Periodontal Maintenance After Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing removes existing bacterial deposits, but it does not permanently eliminate the risk of periodontal disease.
Plaque begins forming again every day.
Patients with a history of periodontitis may need periodontal maintenance more frequently than patients receiving standard preventive cleanings.
Periodontal maintenance may include:
- Cleaning above and below the gumline
- Monitoring periodontal pocket depths
- Checking for bleeding or inflammation
- Reviewing home-care techniques
- Evaluating tooth mobility and gum recession
- Monitoring supporting bone when indicated
The recommended interval depends on the severity of your previous gum disease, remaining pocket depths, how quickly deposits return, and your individual risk factors.
Learn more about oral hygiene and dental cleanings and exams.
Factors That Can Affect Periodontal Health
Plaque is a major cause of gum disease, but other factors may affect how periodontal disease develops or responds to treatment.
These may include:
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Diabetes and blood sugar control
- Certain medications
- Dry mouth
- Genetic susceptibility
- Changes in hormone levels
- Crowded teeth or difficult-to-clean dental work
- Inconsistent brushing and interdental cleaning
Share your medical history and current medications with Dr. Savukinas. This information may affect treatment planning and the frequency of periodontal maintenance.
Experience Providing Scaling and Root Planing and Gum Disease Care
Effective periodontal treatment requires careful evaluation, thorough cleaning below the gumline, and long-term monitoring.
Dr. Savukinas has completed more than 1,500 periodontal therapy and gum disease cases during his career.
His broader clinical background includes 34 years of dental experience and more than 3,000 fillings and restorative cases. This experience helps him evaluate how gum health may affect the stability, comfort, and long-term outlook of your teeth and existing dental work.
Dr. Savukinas is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and has served as a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry since 1994.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scaling and Root Planing
What is scaling and root planing?
Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical periodontal treatment used to clean plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits from below the gumline. Scaling removes deposits from the teeth and root surfaces, while root planing cleans and smooths affected areas of the roots.
Is scaling and root planing the same as a deep cleaning?
The term deep cleaning is commonly used to describe scaling and root planing. Unlike a routine cleaning, scaling and root planing treats areas beneath the gumline and around the tooth roots where periodontal bacteria and tartar have accumulated.
How is a deep cleaning different from a regular cleaning?
A regular dental cleaning primarily removes deposits around the visible teeth and gumline. A periodontal deep cleaning reaches below the gumline and into periodontal pockets to remove plaque and tartar from the tooth roots.
How many appointments will I need for scaling and root planing?
The number of appointments depends on how many areas need treatment, the depth of periodontal pockets and deposits, and your comfort needs. Treatment may be divided into sections so each area can be cleaned thoroughly.
Does scaling and root planing cure gum disease?
Scaling and root planing may help control periodontal infection and reduce inflammation, but periodontitis requires ongoing management. Daily home care, follow-up evaluation, and periodontal maintenance remain important.
Will my gums grow back after scaling and root planing?
Inflamed gums may become firmer and fit more closely around the teeth as they heal. However, gum tissue and bone already lost to advanced periodontal disease do not always regenerate after nonsurgical treatment.
Why do my teeth look longer after a deep cleaning?
As inflammation decreases, the natural shape of the gums and any existing recession may become more visible. This can make teeth appear longer even though scaling and root planing did not remove healthy gum tissue.
Can gum disease return after scaling and root planing?
Yes. Bacterial plaque continues to form every day. Without effective home care and professional periodontal maintenance, inflammation and deeper deposits can return.
How often will I need periodontal maintenance?
The interval depends on the severity of your periodontal disease, remaining pocket depths, plaque buildup, health history, and response to treatment. Dr. Savukinas will recommend an appropriate maintenance schedule after reevaluating your gums.
What areas do you serve?
Dr. Savukinas provides scaling and root planing in Rockville, Maryland, and serves patients from Gaithersburg, Germantown, North Potomac, Potomac, and nearby communities.
Schedule a Scaling and Root Planing Evaluation in Rockville, Maryland
Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession, and deep periodontal pockets may indicate that a routine dental cleaning is no longer enough.
Dr. Savukinas can evaluate your gum health and determine whether scaling and root planing in Rockville, Maryland, or another form of periodontal care is appropriate.
Call 301-738-1155 or schedule your periodontal evaluation online.