Root planing is typically one of the first steps in treating your periodontal disease. Using hand and ultrasonic scalers, your Hygienist or Dentist will remove tarter, diseased deposits, bacteria and their toxins from the root surfaces. We will numb the area with local anesthetic, and then scrape (scale) the full length of the root surface, down to where the root, bone and gum meet. Once these toxins have been removed, the gum can heal and the previously diseased pocket can shrink. This does not mean that you no longer have periodontal disease. Once the tissue has receded (shrunk) and you have bone loss, you are still affected by Periodontal Disease, and will then need to return for Periodontal Maintenance Procedures instead of Prophylaxis, and may need future surgeries to correct any remaining defects.