Oral Hygiene Instructions:

To help you control the disease and prevent re-infection, we have developed comprehensive preventive plaque control (oral hygiene) instructions. This will help ensure predictable treatment and long-term success.

During the active phase of your treatment, we will spend as much time as we feel you need to perfect your plaque removal skills. Please be patient with the process and with us. We will monitor your progress and review your techniques frequently (whenever we feel you need additional instructions).

This deep cleaning has two parts:

• Part One - Scaling - Scaling is when all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gumline are removed all the way down to the bottom of the pocket.

• Part Two - Smoothing the Roots - This is referred to as root planning, and allows your gums to attach again to your roots

Scaling and root planning may take more than one visit to complete and may require a local anesthetic for your comfort.

After a deep cleaning, you may have some discomfort  for a day or two, and  sensitivity. Your gums also may be swollen, feel tender and bleed. Rest assured, this is short term.

We will schedule another visit (Re-evaluation) to see how your gums have healed and measure the depth of your pockets. If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depths, making teeth easier to clean.  

Good dental care at home is essential to help keep gum disease from becoming more serious or recurring.  

Your best defense is to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft brush, floss every day, eat a balanced diet, and avoid using tobacco of any kind.