Scaling and root planing are used on patients that have gum disease to prevent harmful bacteria from destroying the bone and tissue that surrounds their teeth. Scaling is the process of removing plaque and tartar from underneath the gum line, while root planing removes some of the surface of the tooth to make it smoother.
Gum disease is a progressive disorder, with its earliest stages relatively mild compared to the more advanced stages of this disease. With half of the adult American population suffering from some degree of this oral ailment, knowing the early signs of gum disease is extremely important for proper treatment and reversal of it before it turns into full-blown periodontal disease.
In most cases, a gingivectomy is usually done before the patient has experienced problems with gum disease damaging their bone that supports their teeth.
Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is very common, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, which indicates that 47 percent of Americans aged 30 and over, suffers from periodontitis.