Scaling and Root Planing – Deep Cleaning Treatment for Gum Disease

At Bedrock Dentistry, we offer both traditional scaling and root planing and the advanced Fotona Lightwalker TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment to treat gum disease and restore healthy gums. Scaling and root planing, often called a "deep cleaning," is a non-surgical procedure that removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from below the gum line and smooths the root surfaces to help your gums reattach to your teeth. This treatment stops gum disease from progressing, reduces pocket depths, and prevents tooth loss.

What is scaling and root planing?

Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure that treats gum disease by removing bacterial buildup and tartar deposits from beneath your gums. When you have gum disease (periodontitis), bacteria colonize the area below your gum line, creating infected pockets between your gums and teeth. These pockets harbor plaque and calculus (hardened tartar) that regular brushing and flossing cannot reach.

During scaling, we use specialized instruments to carefully remove all plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from the tooth surfaces and root areas below the gum line. Root planing smooths the root surfaces, removing rough spots where bacteria like to collect and making it easier for your gums to reattach firmly to clean tooth surfaces.

Why would I need scaling and root planing?

You may need scaling and root planing if you have:

• Periodontal pockets deeper than 4mm: Healthy gums have pocket depths of 1-3mm; deeper pockets indicate gum disease and bone loss

• Bleeding gums: Gums that bleed when brushing, flossing, or eating indicate active infection beneath the gum line

• Gum recession: Gums pulling away from teeth, exposing tooth roots

• Chronic bad breath: Persistent bad breath or bad taste caused by bacteria trapped in deep pockets

• Loose or shifting teeth: Teeth that feel mobile or have changed position due to bone loss from untreated gum disease

• Visible tartar buildup: Hard, yellow or brown deposits on teeth near the gum line

Scaling and root planing removes the infection, stops disease progression, and gives your gums the opportunity to heal and reattach to your teeth, preventing further bone loss and tooth loss.

Traditional scaling and root planing procedure

Traditional scaling and root planing uses manual hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers to clean below the gum line. We numb the treatment area with local anesthesia so you feel no discomfort. Using specialized curettes and ultrasonic tools, we carefully access each periodontal pocket, scraping away tartar deposits and bacterial buildup from the tooth and root surfaces.

The procedure is typically completed in quadrants (one or two sections of your mouth per visit) and may require 2-4 appointments depending on the extent of disease. After treatment, your gums may feel tender and sensitive for several days, and you may experience some bleeding when brushing or flossing as your gums heal.

Traditional scaling and root planing is effective for mild to moderate gum disease and has been the gold standard treatment for decades. However, it has some limitations: hand instruments can't always reach the deepest areas of complex pockets, bacterial infection may not be completely eliminated, and healing depends on your body's ability to fight remaining bacteria.

Fotona Lightwalker TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment

At Bedrock Dentistry, we offer the revolutionary Fotona Lightwalker TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment (TPT), which combines the power of two different laser wavelengths (Er:YAG and Nd:YAG) to provide more thorough, comfortable, and predictable gum disease treatment compared to traditional scaling and root planing.

The TwinLight® protocol is performed in three precise steps:

Step 1: The Nd:YAG laser removes the diseased epithelial lining of the periodontal pocket and improves access to the root surface, eliminating infected tissue and destroying bacteria deep within the pocket.

Step 2: The Er:YAG laser thoroughly removes microbial biofilm and calculus from the root surface with extreme precision, cleaning areas that hand instruments often cannot reach effectively.

Step 3: The Nd:YAG laser energy coagulates the tissue and promotes formation of a stable fibrin clot that seals the pocket, preventing bacterial reinfection and creating optimal conditions for healing and regeneration.

How Fotona Lightwalker compares to traditional scaling and root planing

Benefits of Fotona Lightwalker TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment

• Minimally invasive: No cutting or sutures required; laser energy precisely targets diseased tissue while preserving healthy structures

• Superior bacterial elimination: Dual-wavelength laser technology destroys bacteria at depths traditional instruments cannot reach, preventing reinfection

• Stimulates regeneration: Laser energy promotes growth of new periodontal ligament, new cementum, and new bone around previously diseased teeth

• Less discomfort: Patients experience significantly less post-operative pain, swelling, and sensitivity

• Faster healing: Most patients return to normal activities within 24-48 hours

• Minimal bleeding: Laser seals blood vessels during treatment, reducing bleeding both during and after the procedure

• Preserves healthy tissue: Laser precisely targets only diseased areas, protecting healthy gum tissue and minimizing recession

• Fewer appointments: Treatment can often be completed in one comprehensive session rather than multiple visits

Which treatment is right for me?

We recommend traditional scaling and root planing for patients with early-stage gum disease (mild to moderate pocket depths of 4-5mm), minimal bone loss, or when insurance coverage limitations require conventional treatment.

We recommend Fotona Lightwalker TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment for patients with moderate to advanced gum disease (pocket depths of 6mm or greater), significant bone loss, history of unsuccessful traditional treatment, desire for minimal discomfort and faster recovery, or when achieving tissue regeneration and new attachment is the goal.

During your comprehensive periodontal evaluation, we'll measure your pocket depths, assess bone levels with X-rays, and discuss which treatment approach gives you the best chance for long-term gum health and tooth preservation.

How do I maintain results after treatment?

Whether you receive traditional scaling and root planing or Fotona Lightwalker treatment, maintaining your results requires excellent home care and regular periodontal maintenance cleanings every 3-4 months. Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection, and without ongoing prevention, the disease can return.

We'll teach you proper brushing and flossing techniques, recommend specialized cleaning tools for deep pockets, and schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor your gum health and prevent disease recurrence.

Why choose Bedrock Dentistry for periodontal treatment in Austin?

Our periodontal specialists offer both traditional and advanced laser gum disease treatments, giving you options that fit your specific condition, comfort preferences, and treatment goals. With the advanced Fotona Lightwalker laser system, we can provide superior bacterial elimination, tissue regeneration, and faster healing compared to conventional methods. If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, notice bleeding or receding gums, or haven't had a periodontal evaluation in over a year, contact us today—early treatment saves your natural teeth and prevents costly tooth replacement procedures in the future.