Root Planing

Root planing is the most aggressive non-surgical treatment used to control periodontal disease. Performed by a periodontist, the purpose of root planing is to remove tartar (dental calculus) from the dentin and cementum surfaces of the tooth in deep periodontal pockets.

Various methods are employed to remove this tartar, including planing by hand, ultrasonic, and most recently, laser debridement.

Root planing is not a cure for periodontal disease. Many patients have root planing done every two years to continually remove tartar formations that that accumulate over this period. 

Regular Periogen® application in deep periodontal pockets dissolves tartar and thus precludes the need for root planing procedures.