At a glance
Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, treats gum disease by removing tartar and bacteria from below the gumline and smoothing the roots so your gums can tighten back around your teeth. It is one of the gum treatments in our preventive dentistry.
It’s done in our office with local anesthetic, often over two visits, one side of the mouth at a time. You get a written estimate before we start, and Saturday appointments are available.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visits | Often two visits (one side of the mouth each), then a follow-up check |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic (numbing) when needed |
| Price | Written estimate before treatment (see dental prices) |
| Insurance | All PPO plans (benefits checked before your visit), Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits, and Texas Medicaid/CHIP for children (DentaQuest, MCNA, UHC Dental) |
| Saturday appointments | Yes, Saturdays 9am–3pm, plus Tuesday and Wednesday |
| Aftercare | Deep cleaning aftercare |
Do you need scaling and root planing?
We recommend it when gum disease has gone past the gumline. Patients usually tell us things like:
- “My gums bleed when I brush, and it’s been going on for a while.”
- “My breath smells bad even right after brushing.”
- “My teeth look longer, like the gums are pulling back.”
- “My gums are red, puffy or sore.”
- “A tooth feels a little loose, or my bite feels different.”
The deciding factor is what we measure. At your exam, we check the depth of the pocket around each tooth and look for bone loss on X-rays. Deeper pockets with tartar on the roots need a deep cleaning; a regular cleaning can’t reach that far.
What happens at your visit?
- Exam and gum measurements: we record pocket depths and take X-rays to see the bone around your teeth.
- Plan and estimate: we explain which areas need treatment and give you a written estimate.
- Numbing: the area being treated is numbed with local anesthetic.
- Scaling: we remove plaque and hardened tartar from the tooth and root surfaces, above and below the gumline.
- Root planing: we smooth the root surfaces so bacteria have a harder time sticking and the gums can heal.
- Second side: the other side of the mouth is usually treated at the next visit.
- Re-check: a few weeks later, we measure your gums again to see how they’ve healed and set up maintenance visits.
Cost, insurance and financing
The cost depends mainly on how many areas of your mouth need treatment, so we don’t list one fixed price. We give you a written estimate before treatment. Our published new-patient exam prices are on our dental prices page.
Many PPO plans cover scaling and root planing as a basic or periodontal service rather than as a preventive cleaning, so your share may be different from a regular cleaning. We check your benefits first. See insurance we accept.
We accept Cherry, Sunbit and CareCredit for patient financing (see financing options), and you can use an FSA or HSA card for dental treatment.
Recovery and aftercare
Your mouth will be numb for a few hours, so wait until feeling returns before eating. Gums are often tender and teeth can be sensitive to cold for several days. This usually eases as the gums heal; if sensitivity lingers, a fluoride treatment can help. Brush gently, keep cleaning between your teeth, and rinse with warm salt water if your gums are sore.
The real work starts after treatment: regular periodontal maintenance visits, usually every 3–4 months, keep the disease from coming back. Full instructions are on our deep cleaning aftercare page.
Alternatives
| Option | When it fits | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Regular cleaning | Healthy gums or early gingivitis | Doesn’t reach tartar deep on the roots |
| Scaling and root planing | Gum disease with deeper pockets | Local anesthetic, often two visits, some tenderness afterward |
| Gum surgery (specialist referral) | Advanced disease that doesn’t respond to deep cleaning | We refer to a periodontist when surgery is needed |
| No treatment | Not recommended | Gum disease can keep destroying bone and lead to tooth loss |
When to call us
Call us if your gums bleed often, a tooth feels loose, your gums are swollen or have pus, or you have pain or swelling after your deep cleaning that is getting worse instead of better; we see urgent problems the same day during office hours. Call (832) 612-2831 — we’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm.
Why patients in Richmond choose us
- Deep cleanings and long-term gum maintenance done in our office, with a written estimate before you start
- Saturday appointments from 9am to 3pm, plus Tuesday and Wednesday hours (Saturday dentist in Richmond)
- Published self-pay prices for new-patient exams, and insurance benefits checked before your visit
- Two dentists, Dr. Arpitkumar Patel and Dr. Harsh Patel, and a team that speaks English, Spanish, Gujarati and Hindi
Related guides
- 5 benefits of scaling and root planing for your gums and teeth
- Scaling and root planing cost compared to a regular dental cleaning
- What determines the cost of scaling and root planing?
- Why you shouldn’t ignore the early signs of gum disease
Frequently asked questions
The area is numbed with local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Gums can be tender for a few days afterward.
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and at the gumline. A deep cleaning goes below the gumline onto the roots, where gum disease does its damage.
Bleeding and swelling usually improve as gums heal, and pockets often get shallower. Bone that was already lost doesn’t grow back, which is why stopping the disease early matters.
Yes. We re-check your gums a few weeks later, then set up maintenance cleanings, usually every 3–4 months, to keep gum disease under control.
Most people do. The numbness wears off in a few hours, and the tenderness is usually mild enough to manage with over-the-counter pain relief taken as the package directs.