What Is the Difference Between Scaling and Osseous Surgery?

Reading time: five minutes.

Taking care of your oral health is important, but sometimes, despite your best efforts, gum disease can still develop. 

If you’ve noticed signs of gum disease, your dentist might have mentioned treatments like scaling or osseous surgery. But what exactly do these procedures involve?

In this blog, we explain the difference between two gum disease treatments: scaling and osseous surgery, and when these treatments are used. 

Table of Contents

• Scaling: Your Go-To Deep Cleaning Solution
  • Types of Scaling
• Osseous Surgery: A Solution for Severe Gum Disease
  • Types of Osseous Surgery
• Preparing for Scaling and Osseous Surgery
• What to Expect During the Procedures
• Postoperative Care and Recovery
• Benefits of Scaling and Osseous Surgery
• Alternatives to Osseous Surgery
• Highlands Ranch Periodontics: Your Partner in Oral Health

Scaling: Your Go-To Deep Cleaning Solution

Scaling, often combined with root planing, is a non-surgical treatment designed to manage periodontal disease in its early stages. When your dentist says you need deep cleaning, they’re talking about scaling.

During scaling, your dentist removes built-up plaque and tartar  (bacterial deposits) from your teeth, especially below the gum line. This deep cleaning goes beyond your regular dental cleanings and targets the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease.

Types of Scaling

• Manual scaling: Your dentist uses hand instruments to manually remove plaque and tartar.
• Ultrasonic scaling: High-frequency vibrations break down plaque, with water washing away the debris.

Your dentist may recommend scaling if you have:

• Mild to moderate gum disease: To stop the disease from getting worse.
• Deep gum pockets: To reduce the depth of these pockets and help your gums heal.
• Rough tooth roots: To smooth out these areas and prevent bacteria from sticking around.

Osseous Surgery: A Solution for Severe Gum Disease

If your gum disease has advanced, scaling alone might not be enough. This is where osseous surgery comes in. Also known as pocket reduction surgery, this procedure addresses severe gum disease and helps prevent tooth loss.

Osseous surgery (gum surgery) reshapes the bone around your teeth and removes infected tissue, getting rid of deep periodontal pockets. Your dentist may suggest this surgery when non-surgical treatments aren’t enough to restore your gum health.

Types of Osseous Surgery

Osseous surgery typically falls into two main categories:

• Traditional osseous surgery: In this procedure, your periodontist makes small incisions in the gum tissue to access the tooth roots. The bone around your teeth is then reshaped to eliminate deep pockets where bacteria thrive. After cleaning, the gum tissue is sutured back into place.
• Laser osseous surgery: This more recent approach uses laser technology to precisely target and eliminate bacteria around the teeth, while preserving healthy tissue. Unlike traditional methods, laser osseous surgery doesn’t require incisions or stitches, although its effectiveness can vary.

Your dentist may recommend osseous surgery if you have:

• Severe gum disease: When periodontal pockets are too deep for scaling to be effective.
• Bone loss: To address bone damage caused by advanced gum disease.
• Regeneration needs: To encourage healthy tissue and bone growth around your teeth.

Preparing for Scaling and Osseous Surgery

Before your scaling or osseous surgery, your dental team will give you detailed instructions to make sure you’re ready.

Preparing for Scaling

• Oral hygiene: Keep up your excellent home care with fluoride toothpaste.
• Medications: Let your dentist know if you’re on blood thinners or any other medications.
• Diet: Stick to a balanced diet and avoid sugary foods that could worsen plaque buildup.

Preparing for Osseous Surgery

• Medical history: Discuss any medical conditions, like cardiovascular disease, with your dentist.
• Antibacterial mouthwash: You may need to use an antibacterial mouthwash before your procedure.
• Rest: Plan for some downtime after surgery and avoid any strenuous physical activity.

What to Expect During the Procedures

The Scaling Process

1. Examination: Your dentist checks the severity of your gum disease.
2. Scaling: Plaque and tartar are removed from above and below your gum line.
3. Root planing: Your dentist smooths out your tooth roots to stop bacteria from reattaching.
4. Final check: Your dentist ensures all bacterial deposits are thoroughly removed.

The Osseous Surgery Process

1. Anesthesia: You’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the area.
2. Flap debridement: Your dentist lifts your gums to clean the tooth roots and bone.
3. Cleaning and reshaping: Infected tissue is removed, and your bone is reshaped.
4. Suturing: Your dentist stitches your gums back into place, and bone grafting might be performed if necessary.

Postoperative Care and Recovery

After Scaling

• Oral hygiene: Keep up your thorough oral care routine to maintain healthy gums.
• Tooth sensitivity: You might feel some sensitivity, but it usually goes away after a few days.
• Diet: Stick to soft foods and avoid anything too hot or cold to minimize discomfort.

After Osseous Surgery

• Pain management: Your dentist may prescribe pain medicine or suggest over-the-counter options.
• Ice packs: Use an ice pack to reduce swelling.
• Activity: Take it easy after surgery—avoid physical activity to prevent bleeding and help your healing.
• Follow instructions: Stick to any additional care instructions your dentist gives you to prevent post-surgical infection.

Benefits of Scaling and Osseous Surgery

Benefits of Scaling

• Prevent disease progression: Scaling helps stop mild gum disease from turning into something more serious.
• Maintain oral health: Regular scaling can keep your mouth healthy and free from harmful bacteria.

Benefits of Osseous Surgery

• Reduce deep pockets: Osseous surgery effectively reduces periodontal pockets, helping your gums heal.
• Encourage bone regeneration: This surgery supports the regeneration of tissue and bone, helping to preserve your natural teeth.

Alternatives to Osseous Surgery

If surgery seems too invasive, you have other options. One effective alternative is LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure). This less invasive treatment uses laser technology to target and remove infected gum tissue while promoting the regeneration of healthy tissue.

• LANAP: The laser targets only the diseased tissue, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. It also helps stimulate bone regeneration and reduces the depth of periodontal pockets. LANAP is a great option if you’re looking for a treatment with less downtime and discomfort compared to traditional surgery.

Highlands Ranch Periodontics: Your Partner in Oral Health

Scaling and osseous surgery serve different purposes in managing gum disease. Scaling is ideal for controlling mild to moderate gum disease, though osseous surgery is necessary for more severe cases. If you suspect you have gum disease, don’t wait—early treatment can save your teeth and your smile.

If you are searching for a ‘periodontist in Highlands Ranch’ or ‘gum disease treatment near me’ we can help! Consult with Dr. Kerri Font, DDS, or Dr. Mike Norouzinia, DDS, to explore your options. Call (303) 683-1144 to book an appointment or complete our online inquiry form.