Scaling and Root Planing in Cedar Hill, TX

MINT dentistry in Cedar Hill, TX wants to help all of our patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Our goal is to stay one step ahead of dental problems with regular checkups and dental cleanings; however, if you develop signs of gum disease, a standard cleaning may not be enough. MINT dentistry uses modern techniques to treat gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, through scaling and root planing. SRP (scaling and root planing) is a simple treatment that is done by one of our board-certified doctors to help eliminate gum disease by cleaning out plaque and tartar that has built up below the gumline. This advanced treatment cleans out the gum pockets, then the enamel is smoothed to prevent future buildup. If you have reason to believe you are suffering from the beginning stages of gum disease, schedule a consultation at our modern practice in Cedar Hill, TX. Regardless of the condition of your mouth and gums, MINT dentistry will help you get sexy teeth with diligent, professional care.

At your annual examination, one of our skilled dental professionals will check the pockets of your gums. If the pockets, also known as sulcus, are greater than three millimeters, a scaling and root planing treatment may be recommended. SRP is performed to clean out your gum pockets and reduce their depth so plaque and bacteria cannot collect in this area, which leads to gingivitis — the first stage of gum disease. Some of the early symptoms of gingivitis are chronic halitosis (bad breath), teeth that feel loose, plus tender, inflamed gums that have become red, bleed easily, and are starting to recede. If gum disease is discovered early on, a scaling and root planing treatment or multiple SRP treatments can improve the condition, but if it has developed into periodontitis or advanced periodontitis (the later stages), you might need more extensive treatments.

An SRP treatment (deep periodontal cleaning) is done in our practice with local anesthesia to numb the areas being treated. We may also recommend one of our sedation dentistry techniques if you feel anxious or stressed about having this procedure. Before your procedure begins, you can enjoy relaxing in an extremely comfortable, massage-style treatment chair. After selecting your choice of music and putting on a pair of our Beats headphones, we'll give you MINT sunglasses to protect your eyes. Then, the predetermined anesthesia will be administered to ensure you will not feel discomfort. Once you've been prepped, your experienced dentist will start with a scaling tool to carefully remove built-up plaque and tartar in your gum pockets. The dentist will then smooth or plane the enamel to reduce the number of areas where plaque and tartar can become trapped to prevent future buildup.

After your appointment, you may experience increased gum and tooth sensitivity, plus numbness until the local anesthesia wears off. One of our MINT specialists might write a prescription for antibiotics to help fight any residual infection in your mouth. You need an oral hygiene routine at home, which includes proper brushing and flossing, to make your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Keep scheduling visits every six months, so the MINT dentistry team can monitor the health of your gums and teeth. Based on the condition of your gums after an SRP treatment, you may need another treatment to fully restore your oral health.

Treating the earliest stage of gum disease with a scaling and root planing treatment is usually covered at least partially by most dental insurance policies. If you are using dental insurance, the MINT dentistry support staff will contact your insurance company to understand your coverage and personal costs. For patients who don't have dental insurance, MINT dentistry is committed to making necessary oral health treatments affordable by taking many different methods of payment, like medical financing, which we can tell you about in your initial consultation. Ask a member of our team how you can get healthy teeth with the MINT Discount Plan, our in-office program to make it easier to afford the treatments you need.

Gum disease affects your health and prevents you from having a truly gorgeous smile. However, the early stage of gum disease, gingivitis, can typically be effectively reversed with a simple scaling and root planing treatment at our office in Cedar Hill, TX. Contact MINT dentistry to schedule your dental exam and consultation. We look forward to surpassing your expectations and helping you achieve a healthy, luminous smile.