In plain words
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning for . Scaling removes tartar and plaque from the teeth above and below the gum line. Root planing smooths the root surface so the gums can heal and reattach. It is done with hand tools or ultrasonic instruments, usually over one or more visits, often with numbing. Gum disease is common in pregnancy, and gums can bleed more easily as hormones change. A mother may hear about this treatment after a dental exam finds deep pockets around the teeth. Research has asked whether treating gum disease in pregnancy lowers the risk of preterm birth. A large trial published in 2006 found better gum measures after treatment but no drop in preterm births. Dentists and obstetric teams discuss timing for each pregnancy.
The deeper version
Scaling and root planing (SRP) is non-surgical periodontal therapy: mechanical removal of subgingival calculus and , with smoothing of root surfaces, to reduce probing depth and bleeding on probing. Periodontitis is diagnosed from probing depth, clinical loss, and bleeding on probing, with radiographic bone loss. In pregnancy the gingival inflammatory response is amplified by hormonal change and shifts in the oral biofilm, a state called . Michalowicz and colleagues (New England Journal of Medicine, 2006; 823 women) randomized treatment before 21 weeks against postpartum care and found improved periodontal measures without a reduction in preterm birth. The MOTOR trial (Offenbacher et al.) reported similar results. ACOG Committee Opinion 569 (2013) states that dental care, including SRP where indicated, is safe in pregnancy.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about scaling and root planing
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Sources
- Michalowicz BS et al. — Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth. New England Journal of Medicine 2006
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Committee Opinion 569: Oral health care during pregnancy and through the lifespan, 2013