How to Prepare for Scaling and Root Planing

If you have gingivitis, chronic gum disease, or advanced periodontal disease, you may need scaling and root planing. This is a special type of cleaning that focuses on the surface of the teeth below the gum lines.

While your regular six-month cleaning deals with the surfaces you can see, scaling and root planing cleans the part of your teeth you can’t. It removes bacteria, plaque, and tarter and assists your gums with reattaching to your teeth.

What Should You Do Before a Scaling and Root Planing Session?

There’s nothing you need to do to prepare your mouth for a scaling and root planing procedure. However, there are some things you can do to help your oral health overall and make you more comfortable and calmer during the procedure.

Talk to Us

If you have concerns or questions about scaling and root planing, talk to us about them. We want you to be fully at ease with the procedure, so ask us any and all questions you might have. We will go over what we will be doing in detail so you know what will happen. If you’re concerned about the pain, we can arrange for a local anesthetic.

Start Eating and Drinking Healthy Options

If you have gum disease that has progressed to the point that you need scaling and root planing, you may need to re-evaluate some of the things you’re eating. While it won’t necessarily change much about your procedure, removing sugary foods from your diet will help ensure that you don’t need scaling and root planing again.

Bring Something to Relax You

If you’re anxious about the procedure, bring some music to help relax you. You can use headphones and songs you’ve loaded up on your phone or other device during the procedure. We’ve found this can help patients relax and focus on something other than what we’re doing.

Want to know more about scaling and root planing or find out if you need the procedure? Call us today to book an appointment.