Non-surgical therapy: scaling, root planing, polishing
Periodontology · Dental (BDS)
Study notes
After scaling and root planing, the dentist waits 4-6 weeks before deciding on surgery. Why the wait? Healing needs time: inflammation resolves, gums shrink back, and pockets genuinely reduce - many sites improve enough that surgery becomes unnecessary. Re-evaluation separates the healed from the truly needing surgery. Students learn: never plan surgery on inflamed tissue; Phase I first, judge later.
Related topics
- Periodontium: anatomy — gingiva, PDL, cementum, alveolar bone
- Classification of periodontal diseases
- Dental plaque and calculus: formation, composition
- Etiology: local and systemic risk factors, smoking, diabetes
- Pathogenesis of gingivitis and periodontitis
- Gingival diseases: plaque-induced, non-plaque-induced