Scaling and Root Planing Cincinnati, OH

MINT dentistry wants to help all of our Cincinnati, OH patients have healthy, beautiful smiles. We prefer to help you prevent dental conditions by providing proactive oral health care like exams and cleanings, but if you have signs of gum disease, your normal bi-annual cleaning might need extra help. MINT dentistry uses advanced tools and techniques to address the advancement of periodontal disease through scaling and root planing (SRP) therapy. SRP is a simple treatment done by one of our MINT dentistry practitioners to clean out tartar and plaque buildup that has accumulated below the gumline within the spaces that separate your teeth and gums. This procedure works to help decrease active gum disease, heal your gum tissues, and increase your gum health. If you have signs of gum disease, schedule a consultation at our state-of-the-art office in Cincinnati, OH. If you want to improve or maintain your oral health, our team of MINT dentists can help you get a sexy, attractive smile with proactive care and advanced treatments.

Gum infection, known as periodontitis, develops when the soft tissues start to separate from the teeth due to excessive bacteria growth and plaque and tartar buildup. It also can cause the jawbone to deteriorate. At your annual examination, our skilled MINT practitioners will measure your periodontal pockets and take dental x-rays to check the bone levels supporting your teeth. If the depths are three millimeters or greater and there is evidence of the breakdown of bone tissue on your images, scaling and root planing treatment may be recommended. The first signs of periodontal disease are chronic bad breath, teeth that feel loose and tender, and inflamed gums that have become red, bleed easily, and are starting to recede. If gum disease is discovered early on, SRP procedures can control these symptoms; however, if it has developed into later stages (advanced periodontitis), you may require another treatment to boost your oral health.

SRP is performed at our state-of-the-art Cincinnati, OH facility. During this procedure, your gums will be numbed using local anesthesia to help you remain comfortable. Your dentist may also recommend one of our sedation dentistry techniques to help you with stress or anxiety. At the start of your appointment, we'll ask you to sit back and relax in a comfortable massage-style treatment chair. You'll choose music to listen to through our Beats headphones, then we'll give you MINT shades to protect your eyes. When you are ready, one of our experienced dental professionals will use advanced instruments to clear away the plaque and tartar deposits from below the gumline. Your hygienist will then carefully perform root planing, smoothing the surfaces of the teeth. Creating a healthy, clean area helps the soft tissues to re-adhere to the root surfaces and minimizes the locations where destructive plaque and tartar can live.

After your appointment, you'll likely still have some numbness from the local anesthesia. This shouldn't last long. It is also normal to notice gum tenderness and tooth sensitivity for a couple of days following your treatment. Our MINT dentistry team will provide you with aftercare tips on how to care for your mouth as your gums heal. We recommend that you maintain a regular oral care regimen at home on a daily basis, which includes proper brushing and flossing, to keep your smile healthy and bright. Our Cincinnati, OH dental experts might suggest periodontal maintenance visits to help inhibit gum disease and prevent active periodontal issues from recurring. Taking place every 3 – 4 months, these visits take the place of biannual dental cleanings and allow our dentists to closely track your periodontal condition.

Scaling and root planing is often covered in part by most dental insurance policies because it is considered a common treatment for gum disease. If you have dental insurance, our financial coordinator will speak to your insurance company to learn about the specific coverage of your policy and then calculate your out-of-pocket costs. For patients who don't have insurance, MINT dentistry in Cincinnati, OH is committed to making necessary oral health treatments affordable by taking many different methods of payment, including low-interest financing, which can be discussed during your consultation. Ask one of our dental professionals how you can get healthy teeth with the MINT Discount Plan, our in-office program to make it easier to afford the treatments you need.

Not only will gum disease damage your oral health, it will impact your beautiful smile. When gum disease is caught in the periodontitis stage, the condition can usually be treated with nonsurgical scaling and root planing. Get in touch with MINT dentistry in Cincinnati, OH to schedule an appointment or get more information. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry perform treatments like scaling and root planing to help you show off a healthy, luminous smile.