Root Planing

The objective of root planing, otherwise known as conventional periodontal therapy is to remove or eliminate the etiologic agents which cause inflammation: dental plaque, its products and calculus, thus helping to establish a periodontium that is free of disease.

Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, minerals and some food leftovers. It irritates the gums, or gingiva, and causes inflammation over time: gingivitis. The bacteria make it stick, the minerals make it hard, and the longer plaque is left on the teeth, the harder it gets. After 24 hours, some plaque hardens into calculus, otherwise known as tartar. The difference between plaque and calculus is that calculus does not come off with the brush and floss anymore. This causes an ongoing state of inflammation called gingivitis.