Scaling &Root Planing.
A deep cleaning that goes below the gumline to remove the bacteria driving gum disease, then smooths root surfaces so your gums can heal and reattach.
What Is Scaling & Root Planing at Nanwood Dental?
Scaling and root planing at Nanwood Dental is a non-surgical periodontal treatment, often called a deep cleaning, used to treat gum disease before it progresses to bone loss or tooth loss. Unlike a routine cleaning, it extends below the gumline to target the bacteria and buildup that cause periodontal infection in Brampton patients.
The procedure has two distinct phases. Scaling removes plaque and hardened tartar from tooth surfaces and from the pockets that form between the teeth and gums. Root planing then smooths the surfaces of the tooth roots, making it difficult for bacteria to reattach and giving inflamed gum tissue the opportunity to heal.
How Does Scaling & Root Planing Differ From a Regular Cleaning?
A standard prophylaxis cleaning maintains healthy gums. It polishes tooth surfaces and removes light buildup at and just above the gumline. Scaling and root planing is prescribed when gum disease is already present and pockets have formed around the teeth.
When bacteria accumulate in deep pockets, a regular cleaning cannot reach them. Left untreated, this leads to gum recession, destruction of the bone supporting your teeth, and eventually tooth loss. Scaling and root planing addresses the infection directly, at the source.
What Happens During Scaling & Root Planing at Nanwood Dental?
Local anesthesia: the treatment area is numbed before we begin, so you remain comfortable throughout.
Scaling: plaque and tartar are carefully removed from tooth surfaces and from below the gumline using hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers.
Root planing: the root surfaces are smoothed so gum tissue can reattach and bacteria have less surface to colonize.
Home care guidance: we review a personalized hygiene routine to support your recovery and maintain the results.
Depending on the extent of treatment, the procedure may be completed in one visit or divided across two appointments, one side of the mouth at a time.
What Should You Expect After Your Appointment?
Some tenderness and mild sensitivity in the treated area is normal for a few days after the procedure. Over-the-counter pain relief and a soft diet can help during that period. Any discomfort typically resolves within a week.
We will schedule a follow-up appointment to measure pocket depths and assess how your gums have responded. For most patients, improved gum health is noticeable within weeks: reduced bleeding, less inflammation, and firmer tissue. How often you return for maintenance cleanings will depend on your individual gum health and the outcome of treatment.
What Are the Benefits of Scaling & Root Planing?
Eliminates the active periodontal infection and the bacteria causing it
Reduces gum pocket depths and allows inflamed tissue to reattach to the tooth
Slows or stops gum recession and the bone loss that follows
Reduces persistent bad breath caused by bacteria below the gumline
Preserves natural teeth by addressing gum disease before it reaches an irreversible stage
Office Hours
- Tue & Fri
- 10am – 7pm
- Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun
- Closed
Scaling & Root Planing Questions, Answered
When does Nanwood Dental recommend scaling and root planing?
Nanwood Dental recommends scaling and root planing once gum disease has progressed beyond what a regular cleaning can address, typically when pockets have formed between the teeth and gums in patients throughout Brampton. Signs include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, and gum recession. A periodontal exam at Nanwood Dental confirms whether scaling and root planing is the right next step.
What does scaling and root planing involve at Nanwood Dental?
Scaling and root planing at Nanwood Dental has two parts. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline, while root planing smooths the tooth root so gum tissue can reattach. Brampton patients are numbed with local anesthesia beforehand, and the procedure may be completed in one visit or split across two, treating one side of the mouth at a time.
What is recovery like after scaling and root planing at Nanwood Dental?
Most patients feel some tenderness and mild sensitivity for a few days after scaling and root planing, which typically resolves within a week. Nanwood Dental recommends over-the-counter pain relief and a soft diet during that time. We schedule a follow-up visit to measure pocket depths and check how your gums have responded before recommending a maintenance schedule.
Does Nanwood Dental accept insurance for scaling and root planing?
Yes. Nanwood Dental in Brampton direct-bills most major insurance providers, including Sun Life, Manulife, Great-West Life, Blue Cross, Canada Life, Desjardins, and Green Shield. Coverage for scaling and root planing varies by plan, so our front desk confirms your benefits before treatment begins.
How is scaling and root planing different from a routine cleaning at Nanwood Dental?
A routine cleaning at Nanwood Dental polishes teeth and removes light buildup above the gumline to maintain healthy gums. Scaling and root planing goes further, reaching below the gumline to remove bacteria from periodontal pockets that a standard cleaning cannot reach. Brampton patients are typically referred for scaling and root planing once gum disease has already taken hold.