Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line. Dear S., I am not quite sure what a prophylactic scaling is, unless the hygienist is referring to what is typically termed scaling and root planing. This has been a fairly successful non-surgical approach to treating periodontal disease. First, I will explain about periodontal disease, and then I will describe scaling and root planing.
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria, which form plaque in and around the gum tissue.
The main way to avoid periodontitis is to maintain good oral hygiene at home, including both brushing and flossing on a daily basis, and to have regular dental cleanings. One aid in the diagnosis of periodontal disease is to measure the pocket depths, in millimeters, between your teeth and gums. While other factors, such as color of tissue, inflammation, and bleeding, are taken into consideration, if you have pocket depths between 1-3 millimeters, this is generally an indication of healthy tissue. Pocket depths at 4 millimeters are considered by some to be the borderline between a somewhat healthy state and periodontal disease. If you have pocket depths of 5 millimeters and above, this is an area where you most likely have some bone loss around the tooth, which is a sign of periodontal disease.