What is gingival curettage – A brief overview

What is gingival curettage?

Gingival curettage is another name for deep cleaning. Professional scaling or dental cleaning involves the removal of plaque and tartar from the tooth surface visible inside the mouth. Our teeth have two parts – the crown and the root. The Crown is the part visible inside the mouth, and the root portion is the part inside the jawbone and is not visible. In some cases, plaque and tartar are deposed on the root surface, which irritates the gums. Gingival curettage or dental curettage is the deep cleaning that removes the plaque and tartar from the root surface.

If you are also wondering What is gingival curettage and when it is done, then read the information provided below – brought to you by Bangalore Dental Specialists.

Indications of Gingival currettage

It is important to note that certain signs indicate the need for deep cleaning or gingival curettage. However, it is not necessary to have all the signs together, and it is essential to get your complete dental examination done to determine your eligibility. Some of the common signs are listed below:

• Advanced gum disease
• Red and swollen gums
• Painful and tender gums
• Chronic halitosis or bad breath
• Pus discharge around gums
• Tooth mobility

Gingival Curettage vs scaling – What is gingival curettage

Dental scaling is the professional cleaning that removes the plaque and tartar from the teeth’ surface. Gingival curettage is the deep cleaning of the gum pockets to remove the infected lining, plaque, and tartar deposits. Dental scaling uses an ultrasonic scaler, whereas the gingival curettage uses hand instruments called curettes.

Is the process painful?

Gingival curettage is done under local anaesthesia and is an entirely painless process. Our team at Bangalore Dental Specialists ensures you are comfortable throughout the process. 

How is gingival curettage done?

The first step is anaesthetising the area to be cleaned. Once the area is numb completely, a curette is used to go deep inside the pocket to scrape off the infected lining of gums, along with cleaning the root surface. The process is done in small strokes, not in one go, to make it super comfortable. If required, topical antibiotics are used to thoroughly clean the area after manually scraping it.

When is it needed?

The gingival curettage is needed in advanced gum diseases where the disease has progressed onto the supporting tissues. The initial gum disease is limited to soft tissues and is cured by dental scaling. In cases of advanced gum problems, the disease involves supporting tissues of the tooth and is managed by deep cleaning sessions. 

What if deep cleaning is not done?

If deep cleaning is suggested and you opt out of it, then the advanced gum disease will progress from the supporting tissues to the bones surrounding the tooth. It will affect tooth mobility and eventually lead to tooth loss. 

How long does the process take?

The time taken and the number of sessions required are totally dependent on the nature and severity of the disease. It is in your best interest to get your complete dental examination so you know the exact details of your case.