Root Planing
Root planing scrapes off the tartar and bacterial layer stuck to the root surface beneath the gumline and smooths the surface. If a cleaning (scaling) takes care of what's above the gumline, root planing is the next step, reaching inside the periodontal pocket.
Why "smoothing" is the treatment
A rough root surface lets bacterial film build up again quickly. Removing the contaminated layer and smoothing the surface makes it harder for bacteria to reattach, and creates the conditions for the gum to reattach to the root. It's usually done one section at a time, under local anesthesia.
Dr. Jongbum Lee's approach — gum treatment proceeds in stages, clearing out even the tartar below the gumline that a regular cleaning can't reach.
Q. Is it normal for teeth to feel sensitive after root planing?
A. Removing the tartar that had been covering the root can cause temporary sensitivity. The tartar wasn't protecting the tooth — it was causing the inflammation — so the sensitivity generally settles down, and your gums get healthier as a result.
Minish