What is tooth scaling

The main cause of periodontitis is tartar and plaque formed on the surface of tooth roots in the oral cavity. If you have periodontitis, you need treatment, and subgingival scaling is one of the treatments. Many people are still unfamiliar with this technology. Subgingival scaling, which is what we usually call "deep teeth cleaning", removes bacteria and tartar in this way. When combined with the use of a fine subgingival scaler, tartar and plaque can be removed more thoroughly.

1. What is subgingival curettage?

The main pathogenic factors of periodontitis are tartar and plaque attached to the surface of tooth roots. We usually use subgingival scaling, which is commonly known as "deep cleaning" to remove deep dental plaque. Root planing is the continuation and improvement of subgingival scaling. Because tartar plaque is widely distributed and invisible to the naked eye, it is impossible for doctors to completely remove it during clinical operations, and a certain amount of tartar is often missed. Therefore, after subgingival scaling, doctors use a fine subgingival scaler to sense and scrape away the diseased tissue and scattered tartar plaque on the root surface by hand, making the root surface smooth, which is conducive to the re-attachment of the gums to the root surface and the disappearance of periodontal pockets. Currently, periodontal pocket endoscopes can also be used to assist in the operation.

2. Indications

Gingivitis and periodontitis. Scaling is the most basic treatment for various periodontal diseases, and subgingival scaling and root planing is one of the steps.

3. Contraindications

1. People with coagulation disorder.

2. Acute leukemia.

3. Other serious systemic diseases that are not under control.

4. Operation precautions

1. Subgingival scaling is performed inside the periodontal pocket and cannot be directly viewed with the naked eye. Therefore, the shape and depth of the periodontal pocket, the amount and location of subgingival calculus should be explored before the operation. Scaling can only be performed after the situation is clarified.

2. Use a modified pen-hold handheld instrument with a stable fulcrum and small scraping movements to avoid slippage or damage to soft tissue. Each scrape should overlap with the previous one to avoid missing tartar.

3. Root planing is mostly done with hand instruments. Currently, there are also many mini scalers that are used for narrow and deep periodontal pockets. The clinical operation is trauma-free, the healing time is fast, and the patient feels comfortable.

4. To avoid missing the teeth that need to be scaled, the scaling should be done section by section and one by one. For those with a lot of tartar or easy bleeding, the scaling can be done in several times.

5. Scraping away the subgingival calculus in the deep periodontal pocket will also remove part of the granulation tissue on the pocket wall, so there is no need to deliberately scratch the inner wall of the pocket;

6. After scaling, the bag should be rinsed and checked for any debris or granulation tissue left. After completion, the bag wall can be gently pressed to make it adhere to the root surface, which is conducive to hemostasis and tissue regeneration and repair.