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Categoría: Periodontics

Curettage and root planing

Curettage involves the removal of plaque, calculus, and pigmentation from the crown and from root surfaces of the teeth as well as any cement on the root surfaces, in order to reveal a smooth, hard, and clean surface.

It is a clinical procedure that must be performed with local infiltrative anesthesia and, depending on the location of the calculus and the depth of the periodontal sac, it can be performed in a number of different ways, such as open curettage, closed curettage and maintenance curettage.

Curettage and root planing
Curettage and root planing

How is a dental curettage performed

  • Closed curettage: is a subgingival procedure without intentional displacement of the gum, when the periodontal sacs are under 5 millimetres. The root surface is not directly visible to the operator.
  • Open curettage: requires exposure of the affected root surfaces, with displacement of gingival tissues. This surgical procedure is performed when the periodontal sacs are in excess of 6 millimetres, and where there is a totally apical accumulation of calculus. For this reason, an incision must be made and a flap raised in order to facilitate access and visibility of the operative field, for the purposes of safely performing root planing and scraping.
  • Maintenance: is carried out between three to six months following curettage, wherein a deep cleaning exercise is carried out by applying a fine periodontic tip to the root surface to eliminate any calculus present. This procedure is usually performed without local infiltrative anaesthesia, and the frequency will depend on the requirements of each individual patient.
The objective of performing root planing is to ensure that epithelial fibres can be reattached, generating healthy conditions. The minute we intervene, changes take place in the gum and in the bone therefore, we need the surface to be completely smooth and clean so that these fibres can reattach and for excellent tissue healing to occur.

Our dental clinic complies with all protocols established by the Council of Dentists and the COEC to deal with COVID-19

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