Scale and root planing is a deep cleaning performed under local anesthesia to remove tartar and bacteria buildup far below the gumline. As with most treatments, there are some risks associated with dental scaling and root planing, but the biggest risk to your teeth and overall health is not having treatment if it is recommended. Your dentist will discuss anything that may cause concern before determining if scaling and root planing is the best treatment option to bring your mouth back to a healthy state.
Some risks of dental scale and root planing may include:
* An adverse reaction to the anesthetic: It is important to make sure your dentist is up to date with your most current medical conditions and what medications you are currently taking. This way they will know what anesthetic is best for you and lessen the likelihood that you will have any problems.
* Post-treatment symptoms: A couple of things you may experience after treatment include bleeding during brushing and flossing and inflammation in the gum tissue. These can be uncomfortable but will subside within a few days. Over the counter pain medications may be taken to lessen your discomfort and a saltwater rinse can be used to keep your open gum pockets clean and soothe the tissue.
* Exposed root surface: Gum recession is a result of periodontal disease and leads to exposed root surfaces. Often those root surfaces have become covered in plaque, which is removed during scaling and root planing and can then become sensitive and need further treatment to repair the receded gum tissue.
* Increased tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity to sugar and temperatures is common with periodontal disease and can be exacerbated after scaling and root planing. It should lessen as your gum tissue heals and your overall oral health improves. Using oral care products with fluoride that are aimed at helping with tooth sensitivity can help. If sensitivity does not resolve, you may need further treatment.
* Tooth mobility or loss: Sometimes, an extreme, prolonged build-up of plaque can actually be all that is holding a tooth in place. When scaling removes that plaque, the tooth can become mobile and could even be lost. If this is the case, the tooth was hopeless to begin with and would have needed to be extracted anyway. Your dentist can recommend treatment to replace a tooth using either a dental bridge or implant. Leaving plaque to hold a tooth in place only compromises the integrity of neighboring teeth.
If any of these risks are of concern to you, speak with your dentist to get a better understanding of the treatment and possible risks. Allowing periodontal disease to go untreated will only serve to compromise your overall health. The risks of untreated periodontal disease greatly outweigh the risks of scale and root planing treatment and can lead to more severe issues in the future. Plaque build-up leads to gum recession, loss of jaw bone structure and eventually tooth loss.