BLOG What is dental curettage? - Nakeji Dental Clinic

WHAT IS DENTAL CURETTAGE?

Dental curettage consists of scraping the roots of your teeth to eliminate bacteria located under the gums. Curettage of the gums is a treatment indicated to slow the progression of periodontal disease and treat periodontitis. Failure to do so could have serious consequences, including the loss of the bone that supports your teeth.

What is dental curettage?

Dental curettage, also known as scaling and root planing, is the dental treatment indicated for periodontal disease. It is the only one that allows the removal of tartar located at the sub-gingival level, i.e. below the gums, specifically the LAC (amelo-cementary line).

The ultrasounds used in tartrectomy or professional dental cleaning only allow the removal of tartar accumulated on the dental surface and at supra-gingival level (level above the gum or LAC).

Tartar accumulation at the sub-gingival level will cause the appearance of periodontal pockets. It will also cause the loss of the supporting structures of the teeth, including the migration of the alveolar bone.

Does periodontal curettage hurt?

One of the biggest concerns of people who come to our dental clinics in Tijuana, is to know if dental curettage hurts. It must be said that this is not a dental treatment that stands out for being painful. Although it is somewhat uncomfortable or annoying due to the scraping sensation that we will feel on the teeth.

Periodontal curettage is a treatment that will be performed under local anesthesia. This means that you will not feel any pain during the treatment.

Although it is true that in the following days, you may experience some discomfort or increased sensitivity in your teeth. This discomfort will normally subside in a few days.

If you have had a periodontal curettage and you feel acute discomfort or pain you should consult with your periodontist to recommend an analgesic, but do not self-medicate.

Is anesthesia necessary to cure teeth?

For small periodontal pockets, curettage does not require anesthesia as discomfort is minimal.
The deeper periodontal pockets, if it requires anesthesia to avoid discomfort.

Essentially, the decision to place anesthesia may depend on several factors such as:

The depth of the periodontal pockets.
The amount of accumulated tartar.
The sensitivity you have in your teeth and gums.

How is deep cleaning of the gums performed?

Dental curettage is, therefore, a dental treatment that serves to perform a deep cleaning of the gums, removing plaque deposits accumulated in the periodontal pockets.

That is, it consists of removing the tartar that has accumulated under the gums. It is done by means of an instrument called a curette, which allows the dentist to scrape and smooth the part of the tooth roots that are under the gum. In this way the tartar adhered to the tooth is removed and the gums are cleaned in depth.

It is carried out by means of specific instruments known as dental curettes, which are adapted to each surface to be treated and vary depending on the tooth.

The curettes are special and depending on the area to be treated, they vary in length, size and angle. For example, the curettes for the anterior teeth are different from those used to treat the mesial and distal areas of the posterior teeth.

Why are they made by dental quadrants?

This treatment is done in quadrants of your mouth. If all teeth need to be curetted, at Nakeji Family Dental we divide the mouth into two parts: right and left, or top and bottom. We do this in two visits so that we don't have to anesthetize the whole mouth on the same day. And also, so that the treatment is not too long and tiring for you.

Therefore, periodontists usually perform the treatment in two sessions, treating two quadrants at the same time. Thus each quadrant corresponds to one side of the mouth:
The quadrants of the mouth are: upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left.

Normally, at Nakeji Dental we treat two dental quadrants in the same session. Thus the treatment time for each two quadrants can be approximately 45 minutes.

Recommendations after dental curettage

After the dental curettage sessions have been performed, it is advisable to follow some small recommendations.

Brush your teeth gently, since it is very possible to find bleeding and inflammation in the treated area.
If your dentist has recommended some type of analgesic to avoid discomfort after the dental curettage, take it, always with the doses prescribed by your dentist.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol for at least 48 hours until after curettage.
For an excellent dental hygiene we recommend that you use a correct technique of tooth brushing, dental floss and mouth irrigator.