Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are better known as a deep cleaning. It involves two separate treatments to remove harmful buildup near the gum line. This eliminates the infection from the gum tissue and prevents future tartar accumulations to keep your smile healthy.
Why Do I Need Treatment?
It can also affect your general health as the bacteria responsible for the infection enter your bloodstream. Scaling and root planning are the first steps to stopping the damage caused by gum disease.
What is the Process of Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling is performed first, which uses a special dental instrument to remove any areas of tartar above and below the gum line. After cleaning the gingival pockets, root planing is performed. The roots of your teeth are smoothed to allow your gum tissue to reattach. This helps seal out future buildup to keep your smile healthy.
Dr. Aditya Mehta – Compassionate Cosmetic & General Dentist
Dr. Mehta, inspired by a family legacy of 15 doctors, brings a deep-rooted passion for healthcare to his work at Oxford Smiles in Marlborough. With a commitment to excellence, he combines advanced dentistry with a warm, personalized approach to ensure every patient feels valued and cared for.
He specializes in cosmetic and general dentistry. Dr. Mehta focuses on creating natural-looking smiles, offering comfortable, anxiety-free visits, and staying at the forefront of dental innovation through continuous education. Trusted for both his gentle care and expertise, Dr. Mehta helps patients achieve lasting oral health with a strong emphasis on transparency and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
SRP is usually considered a “deep cleaning” alternative to the “prophy.” Dr. Puri may recommend it as a nonsurgical treatment for early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) or some advanced gum disease (periodontitis).
During regular prevention, one of our dental hygienists uses special techniques and dental instruments to gently yet thoroughly lift surface stains, bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the teeth and gum line. During SRP, we access the areas underneath the gumline to remove stubborn and destructive deposits from the teeth and their roots. True to its nickname, SRP is a deeper type of cleaning than its standard counterpart.
The first step is to apply a local anesthetic to ensure utmost comfort. Once the tissues are fully numbed, we use special tools, technologies, and techniques to access and remove the likes of resistant hardened plaque or tartar from the teeth and the pockets or spaces that form between the teeth and gums as part of the disease process. This step is known as “scaling.” Once completed, we move on to the “planning” part, which effectively cleans the surfaces of the roots of the teeth to smooth away tartar. Smooth surfaces are less likely to attract and accumulate tartar in the future. Antibiotics may also be applied at the time of treatment.
As a nonsurgical therapy, SRP is largely well-tolerated and does not require extensive recovery. Your gums may feel tender and swollen. We can advise on easing uncomfortable symptoms and promoting fast and predictable healing. It is also important to keep follow-up appointments with Dr. Puri as advised. She needs to assess how well your gums are healing. From there, further recommendations may be made for treatment. In general, many patients require no additional treatment or surgery. But SRP is certainly not for everyone. If periodontitis has progressed to where supportive tissues and bone have been eroded, regenerative therapies (such as grafting) will likely be in your future
Accepted Insurance Plans - Oxford Smiles, Marlborough
We strive to make dental care affordable and accessible for all our patients. That's why we accept most major insurances, and will work with you to help you understand your plan and maximize your benefits. If you have questions about insurance, or anything at all, give us a call to speak with one of our friendly insurance experts. Don’t see your insurance listed? Give us a call on (508) 290-8714, and we’ll walk you through all your options!
No Insurance? No Problem. We have Quality Membership Plans and Flexible Financing Options, Quality dental care is an investment in your health and happiness, and we believe that the cost of treatment should never get in the way of your ideal smile. Because of this, we work with trusted healthcare lenders so you can create payment plans that fit your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
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We take great pride in extending our exceptional care to patients not only within Marlborough but also from diverse locations, ensuring that our commitment to service reaches beyond boundaries.
What Our Patients Are Saying…
We take great pride in extending our exceptional care to patients not only within Marlborough but also from diverse locations, ensuring that our commitment to service reaches beyond boundaries.
One Location, Countless Smiles
We take great pride in extending our exceptional care to patients not only
within Marlborough but also from diverse locations, ensuring that our
commitment to service reaches beyond boundaries.
- Framingham
- Westborough
- HudsoN
- Shrewsbury
- Southborough
- Northborough
- Hopkinton
- Ashland
- Marlborough
- Auburn
- Maynard
- Bolton