Rethman, M. P., Cobb, C. M., et. al. (2021).

The Importance of Effective Scaling and Root

Planing. The Journal of Professional Excellence. 19(8), 40-44.

Scaling and root planning removes calculus and biofilm from below the gumline with the

goal of preventing the start and progression of periodontal disease. Subgingival calculus harbors

bacteria and allows biofilm to sit under the gum line more readily, resulting in inflammation

responsible for loss of the supporting tissue that anchors the teeth. Many factors can make the

removal process less effective including tooth morphology and clinician skill. Leaving calculus

and biofilm behind can cause health problems down the road both in the mouth and throughout

the body.

This article is a good reminder of why removing subgingival debris thoroughly is

important. In the program we have learned that calculus can act as an anchor for bacteria, but the

article adds that calculus can also contain endotoxins which I have yet to learn about. It places

great emphasis that leaving debris behind can lead to loss of tooth support as well as systemic

issues throughout the body. As a student, this reminder is helpful especially as I practice my

scaling techniques in hard-to-reach areas. It is easy to get frustrated with the distal area of

molars, but this article reminds me that it is vital to the patient’s welfare that those subgingival

areas be cleaned.

The article also reiterated that removing cementum while scaling is a standard part of

scaling and root planning. As a student, I have found myself not scaling deep enough out of fear

that I will damage the roots when instrumenting. Reading this article ensures me that I can fully

scale the tooth to provide the best care for my patient even if that involves some risk. I will keep
these reminders in hand when working on future scaling and root planning cases so that my

future patients may receive the full benefits of calculus removal.

This article highlights topics we went over from chapter 1 in our Wilkins textbook. It

illustrates why secondary prevention is so important along with correctly preforming the service

at hand. Completely the treatment properly is just as important as doing the service at all. The

article discusses how burnishing calculus can make removing calculus an even harder task and

can lead to leaving debris behind. The article also talks about how underdeveloped tactile

perception can cause this secondary prevention service to be rendered null. In class we discussed

being a hygienist includes supporting total health and by we can only do so if we complete our

services in total as the article describes.