Dental Scaling, Polishing and Root Planning
Dental Scaling is defined as the removal of deposits around the tooth surface known as tooth plaque and calculus without removal of tooth structure. These deposits on the tooth surface may be above or below the gums.
Polishing of Teeth: Scaling of the tooth surfaces leaves the surfaces of the tooth with uneven deposits and these have to be removed to give the tooth a smooth polished surface. Polishing of the tooth surfaces is done with the help of polishing paste and air polishers.
Tooth Plaque and Calculus:
Tooth plaque is a colourless film that forms over the surfaces of the teeth. The tooth plaque, which remains on the surfaces of the teeth, is mineralized by saliva and other oral fluids to form a hard substance that covers initially around the necks of the teeth, near the gum line and is called calculus. If the calculus is not removed at the onset, it will continue to accumulate plaque and form layers of calculus over the existing calculus and will eventually start to traumatize the soft gum tissues surrounding the teeth and to gum disease.