Gingivitis? What Happens During Scaling & Root Planing

Bleeding when you brush your teeth, swollen gums, or a receding gumline are all signs of early gum disease, also known as gingivitis. This happens when tartar builds up just under the gumline, where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. Thankfully, this stage of gum disease responds well to treatment. After reviewing 72 studies, an American Dental Association expert panel recommended scaling and root planing as the first nonsurgical treatment for chronic periodontitis.

Hearing the words deep cleaning while sitting in the dental chair can feel unsettling, especially if you’ve never had one. Continue reading to learn how scaling and root planing is different from a regular professional tooth cleaning, what happens during this simple procedure, and where to find a dentist who offers personalized scaling and root planing in Redwood City.

What Is Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing, sometimes called SRP or a deep cleaning, is a nonsurgical treatment for gum disease with two parts: 

• Scaling removes plaque and hardened tartar above and below the gumline, all the way to the bottom of the gum pockets. 
• Root planing then smooths the tooth roots so bacteria have a harder time sticking to them. 

Once that buildup is gone, swollen gum tissue can calm down, and the pockets around your teeth can begin to shrink.

How Is a Deep Cleaning Different From a Regular Cleaning?

A routine cleaning, also called a prophylaxis cleaning, keeps healthy gums healthy. It focuses on the teeth and the area at or just below the gumline. Scaling and root planing treats gums that already have an infection, so it reaches much deeper.

What Are the Signs You Need Scaling and Root Planing?

During a regular dental checkup, your dental team will measure the space between each tooth and the gum with a small ruler called a probe. Healthy pockets measure 1 to 3 millimeters. Pockets of 4 millimeters or deeper, along with bleeding, point to periodontitis that a regular cleaning can’t fully treat.

Symptoms you may notice before your dental visit include:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Bad breath that lingers after brushing
• Gums that seem to pull away from your teeth
• Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
• Tartar buildup along the gumline

Some people have no symptoms at all, so pocket measurements at routine checkups help catch gum disease early.

What Happens During Scaling and Root Planing?

1. Exam and Pocket Measurements: Your provider reviews your dental X-rays and pocket depths to map out which areas need treatment.
2. Numbing: A local anesthetic numbs the section of your mouth being treated so you stay comfortable.
3. Scaling: An ultrasonic scaler and fine hand instruments remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline.
4. Root Planing: Your provider smooths the root surfaces so the gums can heal and tighten around the teeth.
5. Rinsing and Review: Your mouth is rinsed, and your provider goes over aftercare and schedules your follow-up visit.

At our dental clinic in Redwood City, we use a Piezo ultrasonic scaler, which cleans with gentle, high-frequency vibrations and a steady stream of water that flushes bacteria out of the pockets. Many patients find it more comfortable than traditional scalers.

A question our patients regularly ask is, “Does scaling and root planing hurt?” The short answer is no. Because the area is numb, most people feel pressure and vibration more than pain. Once the anesthetic wears off, your gums may feel tender or sensitive for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers and warm saltwater rinses usually handle that soreness well.

How Should You Care for Your Gums After a Deep Cleaning?

To help your gums recover after treatment, you should :

• Eat soft foods and skip anything crunchy, spicy, or very hot for a couple of days
• Rinse with warm salt water two or three times a day
• Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and keep flossing
• Avoid smoking and other tobacco products, which slow healing
• Use any prescribed mouth rinse exactly as instructed

About four to six weeks after your deep cleaning appointment, your provider will measure your pockets again. Healthier gums fit more snugly against the teeth, so those numbers typically drop. Gum health also ties into heart disease and diabetes, which we cover in our article: Gum Disease and Your Overall Health: What the Research Says.

Why Does Periodontal Maintenance Matter After Treatment?

Scaling and root planing isn’t a one-and-done treatment. Gum disease can return as bacteria build up again in the pockets. Periodontal maintenance visits, usually scheduled every three to four months, go deeper than a standard cleaning. During these maintenance appointments, dental providers can check pocket depths, clean below the gumline, and watch for early changes in your gum tissue. Sticking with this schedule protects your gums, the bone around your teeth, and any future restorations, including dental implants.

How to Find the Best Dentist in Redwood City for Scaling and Root Planing

Our periodontal care is led by Dr. Shahrdad Kazerani, a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Kazerani earned his Master of Science in Periodontics and Implant Surgery from the University of Detroit Mercy, where he also worked as a periodontics clinic instructor. He has practiced as a periodontist since 2016, has been published in major periodontology journals, and completes many hours of continuing education each year. He also takes extra time at your first visit to explain what’s happening with your gums and how each step of care helps. 

Our Piezo ultrasonic scaler adds comfort and precision to every deep cleaning. For those searching for the best periodontist in Redwood City, having gum care, general dentistry, and restorative treatment under one roof keeps your whole care team on the same page.

Our office sits at the corner of Woodside Road and Union Avenue, near El Camino Real and a few minutes from downtown Redwood City. If your gums have been bleeding or feeling tender, call us or book online to schedule a periodontal evaluation.