Non-surgical scaling and root planing from our Wilshire Blvd periodontists, a gentle, effective first line of defense against gum disease.
Periodontal therapy, most often performed as scaling and root planing, is a deep cleaning of the teeth and gums that reaches below the gumline where a regular cleaning cannot. Using fine hand instruments and ultrasonic tools, our doctors carefully remove plaque and calculus from the tooth surface and the root, then smooth the root so gum tissue can reattach and heal.
This is the least invasive treatment available for gum disease, and it is often the only treatment needed for patients caught in the early stages of periodontal disease. The American Academy of Periodontology encourages periodontists to treat patients as conservatively as possible, and scaling and root planing reflects that philosophy: it is effective, comfortable, and far less costly than surgical intervention.
If your gums bleed easily, feel tender, or have started to pull away from your teeth, periodontal therapy may be exactly what you need to stop the disease process before it progresses further.
Scaling and root planing is typically completed over one or two appointments, with a follow-up visit to confirm your gums are healing well.
We measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth to understand exactly where disease has taken hold and how far it has progressed.
Local anesthetic is used so the deep cleaning is comfortable, even in areas with more advanced inflammation.
Plaque and tartar are removed from below the gumline, and the root surface is smoothed to discourage bacteria from reattaching.
A follow-up visit lets us confirm your gums have tightened back around your teeth and that pocket depths have improved.
Dr. Rana Shahi, Dr. Priscilla Young, and Dr. Ivan Yi are all board-certified periodontists who treat gum disease every day, not occasionally.
We use local anesthetic and modern ultrasonic instruments to keep scaling and root planing as gentle as possible.
We start with the least invasive option that will work for your case, reserving surgery for when it is truly necessary.
133+ five-star Google reviews and a 4.9 rating across 108+ Yelp reviews from patients across Los Angeles.
Your gums bleed when you brush or floss
You notice gum redness, swelling, or tenderness
Your dentist noted deeper gum pockets at your last cleaning
You have persistent bad breath despite good hygiene
You were diagnosed with early or moderate gum disease
It has been over a year since your last periodontal evaluation
Most patients feel mild sensitivity in the day or two after scaling and root planing, similar to what you might feel after an intense cleaning. Over-the-counter pain relief is usually all that is needed, and you can return to your normal routine right away.
The real work happens in the weeks that follow. Gum tissue needs time to tighten back around the tooth, and consistent brushing, flossing, and any home-care instructions we give you play a major role in how well the treatment holds. Most patients are placed on a periodontal maintenance schedule, typically every three to four months, to keep disease from returning.
If your case is more advanced and non-surgical therapy alone is not enough to stop the disease process, we may discuss periodontal regeneration to rebuild bone and tissue that has already been lost.
Schedule a periodontal evaluation with one of our specialists. We welcome patients from throughout Los Angeles and accept most major insurance plans.
We numb the area with local anesthetic before treatment, so most patients feel little to no discomfort during the procedure. Mild sensitivity for a day or two afterward is normal.
A routine cleaning addresses plaque above the gumline. Scaling and root planing goes below the gumline to remove buildup from the tooth root, which a standard cleaning cannot reach.
Most cases are completed over one or two appointments, often treating one half of the mouth per visit, followed by a healing check a few weeks later.
Many patients do not. Scaling and root planing successfully manages early and moderate gum disease for most people. Surgery is reserved for cases where non-surgical therapy is not enough.
Gum tissue typically begins reattaching within a few weeks, though full healing and pocket-depth improvement can take a couple of months to assess fully.
Many dental insurance plans provide some coverage for scaling and root planing when it is medically necessary. Our team can help you understand your specific benefits before treatment.
Most patients move to a periodontal maintenance schedule of every three to four months, which is more frequent than a typical six-month cleaning, to keep disease from returning.
General dentists are excellent for routine care, but periodontists specialize exclusively in gum and bone health. Our doctors bring focused training and experience to treating gum disease specifically.
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