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Archive:
- 2020
- July (6)
- We Need to Act Quickly to Save Your Loose Tooth
- Whatever Your Vacation Plans This Year, Don't Forget Teeth and Gum Care
- This Oral Appliance Could Help Solve Your Sleep Apnea Problem
- Talk With Your Dentist About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
- Acid Reflux Could Lead to Tooth Damage
- How to Protect Dental Health in the Later Years of Life
- June (6)
- A Common Sense Approach to Managing Your Dental Care Costs
- Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
- Why Is Your Smile Gummy? Here Are 4 Possibilities
- Diet and Lifestyle Changes Could Lower Your Risk of Oral Cancer
- Follow These 4 Tips for More Comfortable Eating With Chronic Jaw Pain
- Exciting New Discovery Could Help in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance
- May (7)
- Primary Teeth are Critical to Future Dental Health and Worth Preserving
- What Really Happens During a Root Canal Treatment
- Without Prompt Intervention, Gum Disease Could Damage Tooth Roots
- 4 Things You Should Do - or Not Do - to Maintain Your Oral Appliance
- Instill These Habits in Your Child for a Lifetime of Great Dental Health
- Tooth Pain? Here Are Some Possible Causes
- Think Twice Before Considering Botox for Chronic Jaw Pain Relief
- April (6)
- 4 Things that can Cause Gum Recession and What to do About Them
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
- Here's How to Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction Surgery
- In These Uncertain Times, We Still Care About Your Dental Health
- Watch Out for Re-Infection After a Root Canal Treatment
- March (6)
- Gum Disease Could be Affecting More Than Just Your Mouth
- Dental Porcelain is a Great Option for Creating a Natural Appearance
- Inform Your Dentist if You're Taking Blood Thinners
- Take These Steps to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth
- Treating Gum Disease Important to Saving the Underlying Bone
- Manage These Risk Factors to Reduce Your Risk of Tooth Decay
- February (6)
- Your Child Isn't in Danger from X-Rays Thanks to the ALARA Principle
- Something Between Your Teeth? Don't Use Anything Else but Dental Floss
- Follow the Fast-Food Lead: Cut Back Sodas in Your Child's Diet
- Uncovering Early Gum Disease Through Periodontal Probing
- Test Your Expertise in Caring for Your Child's Dental Health With This Short Quiz
- Preventive Care for Your Child is a Partnership between You and Your Dentist
- January (6)
- Like the Pros, the Athlete in Your Family Needs a Mouthguard to Prevent Dental Injuries
- Veneers May Not Be the Best Option for Your Teenager's Teeth
- Improve Your Brushing and Flossing Techniques for a Healthier Mouth
- Here's How to Cut Through All the Choices to Find Your Right Toothbrush
- Do You Have Adequate Bone to Support an Implant?
- Don't Worry About Dental Amalgam: It's Safe for Treating Cavities
- 2019
- December (6)
- Follow These Holiday Toy Tips for Your Kids to Avoid Dental Injuries
- Teeth Grinding Could Endanger Your Dental Health
- Here's How We Can Jazz up Your Holiday Smile This Season
- Getting a 'New Tooth in One Day' Will Depend on Your Bone Health
- 3 Things You Need to Know Before Getting a Crown Restoration
- Certain Osteoporosis Drugs Could Pose a Future Risk to Your Dental Health
- November (6)
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- Treating a Young, Permanent Tooth Requires a Different Approach
- Keep Oral Care in Focus for a Family Member With Special Needs
- Share These Timely Dental Care Tips With Your College-Bound Son or Daughter
- More Than Indigestion: How Acid Reflux Could Harm Your Teeth
- Tooth Sensitivity Could Be a Sign of Deeper Problems
- October (6)
- Do a Little Extra Food Prep to Ease TMD Discomfort
- How to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk From Halloween Candy
- Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething
- That Scalded Feeling Isn't in Your Head - It Could Be Burning Mouth Syndrome
- Here's What You Can Do to Avoid Gum Disease
- Don't Panic Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding but Do Keep an Eye on It
- September (6)
- To Extract or not Extract? The Big Decision About Your Child's Wisdom Teeth
- Here's What you Need to Know about a Root Canal Treatment
- Don't Delay Seeing the Dentist If You Suspect Gum Recession
- Periodontal Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Another Episode of Gum Disease
- 3 Reasons to See a Pediatric Dentist
- Don't Let Gum Disease Cut Short Your Implant's Service Life
- August (6)
- That Toothache Might Not Be From Your Tooth: The Problem of Referred Pain
- 4 Serious Health Conditions That Gum Disease Might Make Worse
- Your Sinus Infection Might be a Sign of a Tooth Problem
- Don't Let Summer Heat Increase Your Risk of Dental Disease
- Make Sure Your Kids' Teeth Are Ready for School
- Oral Hygiene Might Be on the Decline With the Newest Adult Generation
- July (7)
- Taking a Trip Abroad? Do This to Protect Your Dental Health
- If Appropriate, Antibiotics before Implant Surgery Could Reduce Infection Risk
- Sealants Provide a Little Extra Protection for Children at High Risk for Decay
- How Dentists Provide Your Child the Benefit of X-Rays as Safely as Possible
- Transforming Your Smile with Veneers, Step by Step
- Floss First or Last? Here are Reasons for Either Approach
- Dentures with Implants Could Help You Avoid Bone Loss
- June (6)
- This Rare Tongue Condition Often Looks Worse than it Actually is
- Root Canals are a Safe Way to Save Teeth
- What You can Do to Stop Sugar from Harming Your Health
- Crown Lengthening Could Help with Treating Hard to Reach Cavities
- Jaw Joint Disorders may be Connected to Other Health Problems
- A Retainer-Like Device can Preserve the Space Left by a Lost Primary Tooth
- May (6)
- 3 Things You Can do to Help Promote Your Child's Dental Development
- Consider an Effective and Affordable RPD for Teeth Replacement
- 3 Tips for Successful, Safe Home Teeth Whitening
- Root Canal Therapy Might Just Save Your Tooth!
- Your Teenager not Ready for an Implant? Here's What We Can Do Instead
- Preserving the Pulp is Priority One with a Newly Erupted Permanent Tooth
- March (6)
- 3 Things You Should Know About Teeth Grinding
- 4 Things to Avoid if You Want to Support Your Child's Dental Development
- Here's How to Manage School Snacks and Your Child's Dental Health
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
- You Don't Have to Live with a Gummy Smile. Here's How We Can Change it!
- February (6)
- 3 Reasons You Should Consider Tooth Whitening
- Your Toothache is Telling you Something's Wrong in Your Mouth
- You May Need Your Dentist's Help Easing the Pain of Severe Canker Sores
- 4 Tips to Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay
- Use the Same Prevention Strategy to Defeat Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
- 3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records
- January (6)
- A New Veneer with Minimal or No Tooth Alteration
- How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
- 'Get Rid' of Those Unattractive Teeth with Porcelain Veneers
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- You may Need Orthodontic Treatment Before Obtaining Implants
- Porcelain Veneers Might not be the Best Option for Teenagers
- 2018
- December (6)
- Why the Treatment Model for Your Jaw Joint Disorder Matters
- Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
- Regardless of What You've Seen Online, Don't Fear a Root Canal Treatment
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
- 4 Reasons you may want Your Dentist to Whiten Your Teeth
- November (6)
- Dental Care is Difficult but not Impossible for a Special Needs Child
- Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
- Your Case of Gingivitis Could Develop into Something More Harmful
- This November, Become a Non-Smoker
- Dentures are Still a Viable Choice for Tooth Replacement
- Don't Ignore Sudden Tooth Pain - Your Teeth may be Telling you Something
- October (6)
- Try the Conservative Path to Jaw Pain Relief First
- Inflammation: the Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
- How to Maximize Your Child's Dental Health Potential
- Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
- 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
- Ease Your Child's Teething Discomfort with these Tips
- September (6)
- Simple or Surgical? Choosing the Right Kind of Tooth Extraction
- Not all Dental Crowns Share the Same Quality of Life-Likeness
- We can Build up Lost Bone Before Your Implant
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- 3 Ways to Take the Jitters Out of Dental Visits
- A Low Sugar, High Fiber Diet will Help Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
- August (6)
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- World Cup Soccer Coach-Dentist Saves the Day!
- What to do if Your Child has a Toothache
- Be on the Alert for Gum Disease While Wearing Braces
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- Recreational Marijuana Could Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease
- July (7)
- 4 Reasons why Quitting Chewing Tobacco is Good for Your Oral Health
- If at All Possible, Primary Teeth are Worth Saving
- Your Dental Care Efforts are Just as Important as Your Dentist's
- Know the Facts to Reduce Your Child's Teething Discomfort
- Get Your Vitamins the Natural Way for Optimum Dental Health
- Don't Delay Treatment of Gum Disease
- What You Should Know About Veneers for Teenagers
- June (6)
- 3 Types of Tooth Pain and What They Might be Telling You
- 3 Questions to Answer Before Your Smile Makeover
- Professional Whitening Offers an Effective Way to Restore Your Smile's Luster
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
- Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Mean Better Oral Health Later in Life
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- March (5)
- Although a Challenge, Chronically Ill Children Need Tooth Decay Prevention
- Transform Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- Topical Fluoride Adds Extra Protection against Tooth Decay
- 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
- 2017
- October (5)
- Monitoring Your Child's Thumb Sucking Could Help Avoid Future Bite Problems
- The Right Treatment for Your Child's Injured Tooth Increases its Survival
- Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
- 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
- These 3 Tasks Show How Saliva is Amazing
- May (5)
- Watch for These Developing Bite Problems with Your Child's Teeth
- Techniques for Keeping Impacted Canine Teeth from Spoiling Your Smile
- Consider Bone Health When Deciding Between Implants and Dentures
- Don't let Periodontal Disease Cause Your Gums to Recede
- New Saliva Test may Help Identify Oral Cancer Earlier
- April (5)
- A Healthy Diet is Your Best Source for Vitamins and Minerals
- Encourage Your College-Bound Child to Practice Good Oral Health Habits
- Pediatric Dentists Specialize in Dental Care for Children and Teens
- An Affordable RPD Could be the Answer to Your Missing Teeth Problems
- Safety is a Priority When Imaging Children's Teeth with X-Rays
- 2016
- November (5)
- Reduce Your Oral Cancer Risk with Better Diet and Lifestyle Choices
- Don't Let the Acid in Sports and Energy Drinks Ruin Your Tooth Enamel
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Don't Let an Eating Disorder Wreck Oral Health
- Effective Dental Care Depends First on Getting the Big Picture
- September (5)
- Implants can Support a Total Tooth Replacement Restoration
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
- Certain Mouth Rashes Don't Respond to Topical Steroid Treatments
- Effective Oral Hygiene is Key to Disease Prevention While Wearing Braces
- June (5)
- Dental Offices Hold to the Highest Standards to Protect Patients from Infection
- 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
- A Crown Could be the Answer to Preserving Your Damaged Tooth
- Teens Benefit Most from A Temporary Solution to Missing Teeth
- Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
- March (5)
- Treating Small Enamel Cracks Could Help you Avoid a Dangerous Tooth Fracture
- Kids, Cats and Canines: Dental Development Through the Ages
- Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- 2015
- December (5)
- Five Facts about Bacteria
- Extracting Wisdom Teeth Now May Prevent Dental Problems Later
- Cosmetic Gum Surgery Can Restore Health as Well as Appearance to Gums
- Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling
- Treating a Baby Tooth with Inner Decay can be Complicated - but Still Necessary
- August (5)
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Air Abrasion Offers a More Pleasant Dental Office Experience than Drills
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- Conscious Sedation Eases Treatment Anxiety for Young Dental Patients
- Brushing and Flossing Hard to Do? Consider Your 'Power' Options
- 2014
- September (5)
- Making the Right Choices With Removable Partial Dentures
- Determining the Cause of Tooth Looseness Key to Effective Treatment
- Finding the Right Bacterial Balance for Optimum Oral Health
- Successful Outcomes With Dentures Depends on Attention to Detail
- Extend the Life of Your Dental Appliance With Proper Care
- 2013
- 2012
- August (8)
- Nine Things to Expect During Your Appointment with the Dental Hygienist
- Oral Health Tips for Special Needs Children
- Testing Your Knowledge on Caring for Your Dentures
- Understanding The Factors That Can Influence Dental Implant Success
- FAQ: What You Need to Know About Your Child's Baby Teeth
- Crowns: Do You Know Your Options?
- Cat Cora's 6 Ways to Keep Kids Off Junk Food
- Sinus Surgery — Creating Bone for Dental Implants “Out of Thin Air”
- 2011
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- oral hygiene (49)
- oral health (99)
- common symptoms (11)
- periodontal (gum) disease (5)
- tooth decay (27)
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Categories:
Root Planing Removes Dangerous Plaque and Tartar Your Tooth Brush Can't
While periodontal disease can take on a variety of forms, most are caused by a thin layer of bacterial plaque called biofilm. This layer of plaque will form every 8-12 hours and sticks like glue to your teeth near the gum line. With time, tartar formation occurs at and below the gum line.
If left unchecked, biofilm can give rise to a very unhealthy progression. It first triggers an infection that leads to painful inflammation, progressive bone loss and the gum tissue losing attachment with a tooth. Void spaces (or pockets) form where the gum and bone tissue once adhered; infectious plaque and tartar moves into these pockets and advances deeper to the root. Overcome by disease, the tooth is in danger of being lost.
It's imperative then to remove as much of this entrenched plaque and tartar as possible. Renewed oral hygiene is not enough — removing plaque and tartar from the root surfaces requires a treatment known as root planing.
Root planing is a meticulous, labor-intensive process. We first clear away larger portions of plaque around the teeth and gums with hand instruments or an ultrasonic device and then flush out the pockets with water. After administering a local anesthetic for pain, we would then turn to a number of small hand instruments known as curettes to probe and scrape away as much remaining plaque below the gum line as we can get to.
Root planing requires experience and a good sense of touch to work in areas that can't be clearly seen. Observing the gum line, though, can give us a good indication of progress as these tissues will actually change color once the biofilm and tartar deposits have been removed.
Being so deeply entrenched, not all the deposits might be removed during one session. However, as plaque and tartar are removed, the gum tissues will begin to heal and become less inflamed. This will make it easier to remove plaque in subsequent sessions.
Root planing takes time, but the effort is well worth it. In the short term you'll notice less inflammation and pain around your teeth and gums. In the long-term, it just may save your teeth.
If you would like more information on root planing and periodontal disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Planing.”