Scaling and Root Planing in Cordova, TN
A deeper cleaning for gums that have started to pull away from the teeth. Dr. Dalal will show you the measurements and X-rays that led to the recommendation before anything begins.
What to Know About Scaling and Root Planing in Cordova TN
If your last cleaning came with the words “your gums are bleeding when we probe” or “your pocket depths are higher than we like,” you may have been told you need Scaling and Root Planing in Cordova TN. It is a deeper cleaning that reaches below the gumline, where a regular cleaning does not go. The goal is to stop early gum disease before it becomes the kind that costs you teeth.
We do this procedure often at Cordova Family Dental, and we do not treat it as a scary upgrade or a sales pitch. It is a clinical recommendation based on what we measure in your mouth and what we see on your digital X-rays. When Dr. Dalal recommends it, she will show you the numbers and the images first so the recommendation makes sense.
This page walks through what scaling and root planing actually involves, who needs it, what your visit will look like, and how insurance tends to handle it. If you read it and still have questions, that is what the consultation is for.
How Scaling and Root Planing Differs from a Standard Cleaning
A regular cleaning, sometimes called a prophylaxis, is for gums that are basically healthy. The hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the visible parts of your teeth and just slightly under the gumline. It is the cleaning most patients get every six months.
Scaling and root planing is different in two ways. First, we go deeper, all the way down the root surface to where the gum has detached from the tooth. Second, we smooth the root itself so the gum tissue has a clean surface to reattach to. Bacteria and hardened deposits collect in these deeper pockets, and a standard cleaning instrument cannot reach them.
The shorthand you may hear is “deep cleaning,” which is accurate but undersells what is happening. We are treating early to moderate periodontal disease, not just polishing teeth. Dr. Dalal will walk you through your pocket depth chart at the visit so you can see why a regular cleaning would not be enough this time.
Who Needs Scaling and Root Planing and How We Decide
The decision is based on numbers, not a hunch. At your exam we measure the space between your gum and each tooth in millimeters. Healthy pockets are one to three. Four can go either way depending on bleeding and bone levels. Five and above usually means the bacteria have built up below the gumline and a standard cleaning will not reach them.
Other signs we watch for: gums that bleed when you brush, gums that have pulled back from the teeth, persistent bad breath, and bone loss visible on X-rays. Our digital X-rays are read with OverJet AI assistance, which flags bone-level changes that are easy to miss on a screen at a glance. Dr. Dalal then looks at the same image and decides what to do with that information.
We see this often in patients who have not been to a dentist in years, and we see it in patients who come in every six months and still developed pockets because of genetics, medications, or how their teeth fit together. We do not make either patient feel judged about it. The plan she builds for you is the plan that fits your mouth, not a script.
What Happens During Your Scaling and Root Planing Visit
Before we start, we numb the area we will be working on. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the visit is once the anesthetic is in. The treatment is usually split into two appointments: one side of the mouth at a time. This keeps you from having your entire mouth numb at once and makes the visit easier to sit through.
During the appointment, the hygienist uses ultrasonic instruments and hand scalers to remove tartar and bacterial buildup from the root surfaces below the gumline. Then the roots themselves are smoothed so the gum tissue can reattach more cleanly. In some cases we place a localized antibacterial rinse or gel in deeper pockets.
Afterward your gums will be tender for a day or two and may feel slightly more sensitive to temperature for a couple of weeks while they heal. We send you home with specific aftercare instructions and a follow-up plan. About four to six weeks later, we bring you back to re-measure the same pockets and see how the tissue responded. That re-measurement tells us whether you have moved into a maintenance routine or need a little more attention in one area.
How Insurance Usually Handles Scaling and Root Planing
Most PPO dental plans cover scaling and root planing under the basic or major services category, often at 50 to 80 percent after your deductible. Coverage depends on your specific plan and on the pocket depth and bone-loss documentation we submit. We send X-rays and periodontal charting with the claim so the insurance company can see why the treatment was recommended.
We are now accepting TennCare alongside most PPO dental plans in the Memphis area. If you are a TennCare member, we will verify your benefits before the appointment and tell you what is covered before you sit in the chair. If there is an out-of-pocket portion, CareCredit financing is available so the cost does not have to land all at once.
We will give you the estimated patient portion in writing before we start, including what insurance is projected to pay and what is left for you. You can also read more on our broader insurance and payment pages and bring questions to the visit.
Why Treating Early Gum Disease Now Protects Your Teeth Later
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and the early stage is the one that responds best to treatment. Once bone is gone around a tooth, it does not grow back on its own. Scaling and root planing is how we stop the slide while the bone is still mostly intact.
After treatment, most patients move onto a three or four month periodontal maintenance schedule instead of the standard six months. That cadence keeps the pockets stable. It is also how we catch any area that wants to slip back before it does. Dr. Dalal brings experience from practices across Memphis and East Tennessee and a University of Tennessee College of Dentistry background to that ongoing care, and she will explain the reasoning behind every recheck so you understand the why, not just the what.
Ready to Take Care of Your Gums
If a previous dentist mentioned deeper pockets or bleeding gums, or if it has just been a while, schedule a visit at Cordova Family Dental. We will measure, show you what we see, and explain your options before anything is decided.