Office Hours
Mon & Fri 9 AM-6 PM
Tues & Thurs 7 AM-8 PM
Wed & Sat 9 AM-3 PM
Address
507 S. Main Street Naperville, IL 60540
Contact Us
630.420.0013
Mon & Fri 9 AM-6 PM
Tues & Thurs 7 AM-8 PM
Wed & Sat 9 AM-3 PM
507 S. Main Street Naperville, IL 60540
630.420.0013
Get to the root of mid-stage periodontal disease.
Root planing is the second step after dental scaling to address mid-stage periodontal disease. Scaling removes hardened plaque, or calculus, along the gumline. Dental root planing removes the calculus from below the gumline, along the root of the tooth.
One of the checks we do during a regular cleaning is for dental pockets – areas where the gums may have pulled away from the tooth. Those pockets can allow for the bacteria that causes plaque to get under the gum and adhere to the root of the tooth. Plaque hardens to calculus and causes gum redness, swelling and irritation, as well as ultimately leading to gum recession and other periodontal problems. Root planing is the process of removing the calculus from the tooth’s root.
While the dental root planing procedure is non-surgical, it can still cause discomfort. Before the procedure begins, a local anesthetic will be applied to the treatment area. A dental explorer is used to confirm the presence of calculus, and then specialized dental tools known as Gracey curettes in varying sizes are used for the calculus removal. The curette is guided along the root of the tooth, the angle is slightly adjusted, and the calculus is methodically removed in firm, downward motions. Once the calculus is properly removed, the root is again smooth (or planed).
It is important that root planing be done by an experienced dentist, as incomplete planing leads to burnished calculus – a smooth layer left on the root that is more difficult to remove than the initial, bumpier calculus. In this case, symptoms of periodontal disease will persist.
It is common to experience some sensitivity, discomfort, and gum irritation for a few days after treatment. These side effects will be most noticeable for a few hours after the procedure and diminishing in nature until gone. If you feel acute pain or notice after several days that your gums are swollen, bleeding, or excessively red, please contact our office right away at 630.420.0013. If you do not have any problems after the procedure, we will want to see you again after several months to check your gum health.
We are conveniently located in downtown Naperville, IL and offer the perfect combination of experience and innovation in dentistry.
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507 S. Main Street, Naperville, IL 60540 │ 630.420.0013