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Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning that treats gum disease before it costs you teeth. It removes hardened plaque and bacteria from below the gumline, then smooths the tooth roots so your gums can heal and reattach. For patients in Durham with early or moderate gum disease, it is often the turning point.
HOW IT WORKS
We measure the pockets around your teeth and review your X-rays to see where the disease has reached.
The area is numbed, so the deep cleaning is comfortable from start to finish.
We remove hardened tartar and bacteria from below the gumline, where a routine cleaning cannot reach.
When plaque hardens below the gumline, it inflames the gums and pulls them away from the teeth, forming pockets that trap more bacteria. Left alone, this leads to bone loss and, eventually, loose teeth. Scaling and root planing clears out that buildup and gives your gums a chance to recover.
Your gums may be tender for a few days, and we will give you simple aftercare instructions. Most patients notice their gums looking pinker and bleeding less within a couple of weeks.
After a deep cleaning, we usually recommend more frequent maintenance visits to keep the disease from coming back. Staying on that schedule is the single most important thing you can do to protect your teeth.
Our hygienists, Julie and Austin, are both skilled and genuinely warm. They go at a pace that is comfortable for you, explain what they are finding as they go, and send you home with a clear picture of your oral health.
Both are trained at UNC Chapel Hill, and both are known for putting patients at ease and taking the time to teach. They make each cleaning feel comfortable and unhurried.
Scaling and root planing can stop gum disease before it costs you teeth. Ask us if it is right for you.
📍1020 Broad St, Durham, NC 27705
⏰ Monday to Wednesday 8:00a to 4:30p
⏰ Thursday 8:00a to 3:30p
⏰ Closed Friday to Sunday
Fleming Dental is an out-of-network, fee-for-service practice. We file insurance claims on your behalf as a courtesy, and we provide clear estimates before any treatment begins.
PATIENT STORIES
★★★★★
“I am always pleased with my visits with Dr. Fleming. I recommend him.”
Karla Greene
Google Review · 5 Stars
★★★★★
“I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Fleming.”
Mallory Horvath
Google Review · 5 Stars
★★★★★
“Excellent care, exceptional staff!”
Lisa Miles
Google Review · 5 Stars
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