Invisalign: Know Before You Go
Video transcript: Hi, Dr. Mark Burhenne here of AsktheDentist.com.
I remember back in dental school when someone said, “We’re going to clean below your gums,” and I said, “No, you’re not.” And of course, it’s important to do that, and I’ll explain why in this video.
A lot of people have questions about root planing. What is a root planing? In dentistry, it’s called SRP: scale and root planing.
If you have gum disease, you have calculus and tartar below the gum line, and that means you’ve not had a cleaning frequently enough. The tartar that’s building up above the gum line is slowly creeping down past the gum line.
So, the gum doesn’t quite attach to the tooth directly. It attaches below the point that you see in the mouth. And hence, there is a little moat or a little crevice around each tooth.
The tartar that builds up above the gum line starts creeping down, crystallizing under the tooth surface, and that needs to be removed. And that, technically, is called a root planing. You’re planing the root with an instrument. The hygienist will do it.
So, if your dentist tells you that you need a root planning, you’re getting your roots planed, cleaned, scraped and disinfected. And it’s an important procedure.
It’s expensive because it takes longer. You may need anesthesia to have that accomplished, but it needs to be done.
If you don’t get it done, then you’re going to have all sorts of problems like heart disease, infections in the blood. Your inflammatory index, it’s called CRP, or your inflammatory index will rise and stay high and cause other parts of your body to become inflamed. And of course, that’s not a good thing.
So, when your dentist says root planning, ask him about it. Ask how deep your pockets are. Typically, pockets get deeper with root planings past 3 mm. If you have 4 or 5 mm pockets, then you will have to go beyond that normal depth and get the roots cleaned.
So, ask your dentist and get it done.
Any other questions about root planings? Ask in the comments below. I read each and every one.
Dr. Mark Burhenne
I agree root canal is necessary to remove the infected pulp before it infects other gums also.
I go to the dentist regularly because I have diabetes. I also have periodontal disease and have been recommended to go to a Periodontis. I am currently have planning and scaling done. for some reason one of my back teeth hurts with escruciating pain whenever I chew down on it. It is a molar that was in front of a wisdom tooth I had pulled years ago. Could this pain be part of my periodontal disease?
What is the proper procedure for root planing to prevent the bacteria from entering the blood stream?