Scaling and Root Planing in Hammond, LA

MINT dentistry professionals in Hammond, LA want to help all our patients have a beautiful smile. Our goal is to help you avoid dental conditions by recommending proactive oral health care, like exams and cleanings; however, if you have signs of gum disease, your normal cleaning twice a year might need extra help. MINT dentistry utilizes modern tools and techniques to help stop periodontal disease through SRP, or scaling and root planing therapy. Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical option done by one of our MINT dentistry practitioners to remove plaque and tartar that has collected below the gumline and within periodontal pockets. This treatment is designed to help minimize the periodontal condition, heal your gum tissues, and increase the health of your gums. If you notice symptoms of gum disease, make an appointment for an exam and consultation at our modern practice in Hammond, LA. Whether your mouth is already healthy or you have signs of gum disease, we can help you get sexy teeth with proactive care and advanced treatments.

When destructive oral bacteria that live within the plaque and tartar deposits cause the gums to separate from the tooth roots, it is called the periodontitis stage of gum disease. During your annual examination, we will evaluate the spaces between your teeth and gums and capture dental x-rays to review the amount of bone surrounding your teeth. When the depths are three millimeters or greater and we can see bone loss on your radiographs, scaling and root planing treatment may be the recommended treatment option. The first signs of a periodontal infection are chronic bad breath, tooth mobility, and tender, inflamed gums that are receding, red, or bleeding. If gum disease is discovered early on, scaling and root planing can decrease these symptoms; however, if gum disease has progressed to later stages (advanced periodontitis), you may require more extensive treatments to improve your oral health.

Our Hammond, LA dental professionals can perform a deep periodontal cleaning with scaling and root planing (SRP) under local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during treatment. We can also review stronger sedation techniques to help you with stress or anxiety. At the start of your appointment, you'll relax in a massage chair. After selecting your choice of music and putting on a pair of our Beats headphones, you will be given our signature MINT sunglasses to protect your eyes. When you've been prepped, one of our experienced dental professionals will use ultrasonic and hand instruments to carefully remove plaque and tartar accumulation within your periodontal pockets. We will then meticulously perform root planing, smoothing the surfaces of the teeth. Establishing a smooth, healthy surface can enable the soft tissues to grow back against the tooth root and reduce the spaces where disease-causing plaque and tartar can cause damage.

Following SRP treatment, you may experience some numbness in your mouth as the local anesthesia wears off. You'll also likely experience tenderness in your gum tissues and sensitivity in your teeth for a couple of days. Our MINT dentistry experts will explain post-op instructions on how to care for your mouth as your gums recover. You should maintain a regular dental hygiene routine at home each day, including proper brushing and flossing, to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Our Hammond, LA doctors might recommend a periodontal maintenance program to help deter periodontal disease and prevent active periodontal problems from recurring. Typically occurring every 3 – 4 months, these visits take the place of six-month dental cleanings and allow our experts to monitor your gum and jawbone health.

The cost of your scaling and root planing may be partially covered by your dental insurance benefits. If you are using dental insurance, our team will reach out to your insurance company to review your coverage and personal costs. For patients who don't have dental insurance, MINT dentistry in Hammond, LA is dedicated to helping you afford your dental procedures by accepting several payment methods, like low-interest financing, which we can tell you about in your initial consultation. Ask a member of our team about how we can help you afford the procedures needed to achieve your very best smile with our MINT Discount Plan.

Gum disease can seriously impact your dental health and keep you from having a truly healthy smile. If periodontal disease is caught in the periodontitis stage, it can often be managed with scaling and root planing treatment. Please contact MINT dentistry in Hammond, LA to get more information or to schedule an appointment. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry perform treatments, like scaling and root planing, to help you show off a healthy, luminous smile.