Gum disease affects millions of people, and most don’t realize how far it has progressed until our scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) evaluation reveals it. That’s exactly why Dr. Faranak Khasraghi, DDS, DMD takes a proactive, detail-oriented approach to periodontal care at County Center Dental Group. With over 20 years of experience and a reputation built on precision and patient trust, Dr. K is the provider patients turn to when they need scaling and root planing done right. Her dual dental degrees and advanced clinical training ensure that every deep cleaning appointment is handled with the expertise your gum health deserves.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
What Happens to Your Gums When Plaque Goes Untreated
Plaques are constantly forming on your teeth. When it isn’t removed through regular brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar, a stubborn deposit that can’t be cleared with a toothbrush alone. Over time, tartar accumulates along and beneath the gumline, irritating the surrounding tissue and triggering the early stages of gum disease.
As the irritation continues, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, creating small pockets where bacteria collect and multiply. These pockets deepen as the infection progresses, eventually threatening the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place. At this stage, a routine cleaning is no longer enough. Scaling and root planing is designed specifically to reach these pockets, clear out the bacterial deposits, and create conditions that allow your gum tissue to heal and reattach properly.
Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing
Once gum disease takes hold below the gumline, standard cleanings cannot reach it. Scaling and root planing clear the infection, calm inflammation, and protect your teeth for the long run. Here is how this treatment can help.
The Risks of Delaying Scaling and Root Planing
Many people do not realize how far gum disease has progressed until a scaling and root planing evaluation shows them. Waiting carries its own risks to your finances, your health, and your safety, and getting treatment raises fair questions of its own. Here is what each one looks like and how we help you handle it.
Financial Risk of Delaying Scaling and Root Planing
A deep cleaning treats gum disease before it progresses, and waiting can lead to more involved care down the line, which usually costs more. You will know what your treatment involves before anything moves forward, because Dr. K walks you through the affected areas, the number of appointments, and the outcomes to expect. During your consultation, the team also reviews your insurance benefits and discusses any out-of-pocket costs so you can make an informed decision. County Center Dental Group accepts most PPO plans and offers monthly payments through Cherry and CareCredit.
Health Risk of Waiting on Scaling and Root Planing
Gum disease tends to keep progressing without treatment, and a deep cleaning is designed to reach the pockets where bacteria collect so your gums can begin to heal. During your appointment, a local anesthetic keeps you comfortable throughout the procedure, so most patients feel little to no discomfort. Some tenderness and sensitivity afterward are expected and usually resolve within a few days. You also receive specific aftercare instructions, including what to eat, how to brush and floss around healing tissue, and what symptoms to watch for.
Safety Risk of Putting Off Scaling and Root Planing
A deep cleaning is designed to protect the gums and bone that support your teeth, and starting early generally keeps treatment simpler. Before it begins, Dr. Khasraghi measures the depth of your pockets, reviews your dental and medical history, and takes X-rays where needed to check your bone levels. Those findings determine how extensive your deep cleaning needs to be and whether the whole mouth or specific areas need attention. A follow-up visit several weeks later measures your progress and shows whether your pockets have decreased in depth.
Why Choose Us
A lot of patients leave a deep cleaning appointment unsure of what was done, why it was necessary, or what comes next. Dr. Faranak Khasraghi takes a different approach. From the initial assessment through to your follow-up visit, she takes the time to explain what’s happening with your gum health in plain, direct terms, what the buildup looks like, how far the disease has progressed, and exactly what scaling and root planing will accomplish. That level of clarity isn’t standard everywhere, but at County Center Dental Group, it’s considered a core part of your care.
Understanding your condition also means you’re better equipped to maintain your results at home. Dr. K doesn’t just complete the procedure and move on. She ensures you leave with a practical understanding of what contributed to your gum disease, how to prevent it from returning, and what warning signs to watch for between visits. Combined with her dual dental degrees, 20-plus years of clinical experience, and recognition as America’s Top Dentist, her commitment to patient education makes for a level of care that goes well beyond the procedure itself.
Schedule Our Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
Our scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) delivers healthier gums: less bleeding when you brush, less sensitivity when you eat, and a lower risk of losing teeth you’d rather keep, but only when gum disease is addressed before it advances further. Dr. Faranak Khasraghi and the team at County Center Dental Group are ready to walk you through every step of the process and make sure you leave each appointment with a clear picture of where your gum health stands.
Your first appointment with Dr. Faranak Khasraghi is simply a conversation: a chance to ask questions, understand what your gum health looks like, and decide on next steps without any pressure. Most patients do a little research before booking their first appointment, and our Facebook page is there when you’re in that stage. When you’re ready to take the next step, 703.670.4888 connects you directly with our team.
FAQs
How much is deep teeth cleaning?
The cost of deep cleaning varies depending on the severity of gum disease and how many areas of the mouth require treatment. Many dental insurance plans cover a portion of scaling and root planing since it’s considered a medically necessary procedure for treating periodontal disease. During your consultation, the team will review your insurance benefits and discuss any out-of-pocket costs so you can make an informed decision.
Is deep cleaning teeth necessary?
If your dentist has identified significant tartar buildup below the gumline or periodontal pockets deeper than 4mm, deep cleaning is typically necessary to prevent further bone and tissue loss. A standard cleaning only addresses the surfaces above the gumline, which isn’t sufficient for treating active gum disease. Skipping treatment can allow the infection to progress, potentially leading to tooth loss and more invasive procedures down the line.
Is scaling of teeth painful?
The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, so most patients experience little to no discomfort during treatment. Some mild soreness and sensitivity in the treated areas are common in the days following the appointment, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients find the experience far more manageable than they expected, especially with an experienced provider guiding the process.
What not to do after scaling teeth?
For the first 24 to 48 hours after your deep cleaning, avoid hard, crunchy, or very hot and cold foods that could irritate sensitive gum tissue. You should also refrain from smoking, as it significantly slows gum healing and increases the risk of reinfection. Continue brushing and flossing gently, and follow any specific aftercare instructions your dental team provides to support a smooth recovery.
What is root planing?
Root planing is the second phase of deep cleaning and involves carefully smoothing the surfaces of your tooth roots beneath the gumline. Rough root surfaces make it easier for bacteria to attach and harder for gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. By creating a smoother surface, root planing encourages healthy gum reattachment and reduces the likelihood of future bacterial buildup in periodontal pockets.
How long does scaling and root planing take?
The total time depends on the extent of gum disease and how many areas of the mouth are being treated. Typically, the procedure is divided into two appointments, with one or two quadrants of the mouth treated per visit, each session lasting roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Your dental team will give you a clearer estimate based on your specific treatment plan during the initial consultation.