Often referred to as a deep cleaning, scaling and root planning are the initial stages of periodontal therapy. Dental scaling removes tartar, plaque, and biofilm from the tooth surface and underneath the gum line. Root planing involves detailed scaling of the root surface to decrease inflammation of the gum tissue, allowing it to heal and reattach to the tooth. Depending upon the level of periodontal disease, scaling and root planing may take multiple visits to complete.

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