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Scaling and Root Planing
Advanced gum disease sometime requires the dentist to clean below the gum line to remove stubborn, crusty deposits called tartar or calculus, and to remove damage near the tooth root. This is done to prevent further damage and restore and stabilize the tooth.

For some patients, a local anesthetic is administered to the affected area. Then, a small scaling instrument and/or ultrasonic cleaning device are used to remove the deposits.

After cleaning, the root may need to be smoothed, or planed, to restore it as much as possible to its original shape. Planing also allows your gum tissue to better attach itself and heal properly.

It’s NOT Just a Cleaning

At Dr. Kelly Kennan-Houlihan’s office we believe your ongoing, regularly scheduled dental hygiene visit is the most important appointment you can keep. Here is a list of some of the things we do for you…

it’s more than just a cleaning!

• Review your medical history and modify treatment accordingly
• Oral Cancer Screening
• Gum (periodontal) disease screening
• Cavity detecting x-rays
• Full mouth disease and tumor detecting x-rays
• Examination of existing fillings
• Detection of new cavities
• Evaluation of your bite and the consequences of missing or crowded teeth
• Re-check fit of all dental appliances
• Evaluate cosmetic needs to give you a more beautiful smile
• Removal of hardened bacterial deposits (tartar or calculus)
• Removal of soft, sticky bacterial deposits (plaque)

• Removal of coffee, tea, and tobacco stains
• Floss and polish teeth to make them squeaky clean
• Apply fluoride and other medicaments
• Clean dental appliances
• Give personalized oral hygiene instructions plus the specific aids for your personal use at home
• Take intra-oral photos of problem areas—so you can see what we see
• Plan treatment for your present and future dental health
• Evaluate your overall dental needs and refer you to specialists as needed
• Let you know about the cutting edge dental technology and treatments available at our office
• Shade evaluation of teeth for possible bleaching