What is Dental Curettage and When Should it be Done?

What is Dental Curettage

Scaling and root planing is a type of deep dental cleaning that targets plaque and bacteria buildup beneath the gumline, around the roots of your teeth.  

Dentists, dental hygienists or periodontists often recommend this procedure for patients with mild to moderate gum disease. It can help reduce gum inflammation and bleeding, lower the risk of tooth loss, and support long-term oral health. 

The Gum Diseases that Require Dental Curettage

Almost all instances of dental curettage will be in response to gum disease. While gum diseases are common, they can cause serious harm if left untreated in the long term. Dental curettage is therefore a vital treatment in ensuring conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis do not fester and lead to irreversible gum damage and teeth loss.   

Gingivitis  

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that affects many people. It is caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivitis which can build up in the mouth and around the teeth due to poor oral care and the presence of tartar (which provides a place for bacteria to fester).  Symptoms of gingivitis include: 

• Irritated, swollen gums. 

• Bleeding when cleaning teeth. 

• Halitosis (bad breath). 

• Change in gum colour (typically bright or dark red). 

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to a more serious gum disease known as periodontitis. If you are wondering ‘how long does it take for gingivitis to turn into periodontitis’, there is no set timescale, so seek treatment immediately to ensure progression does not happen. 

In terms of how to treat gingivitis, if you recognise any symptoms of the condition, you should schedule a dentist or dental hygienist’s appointment as soon as possible. In most cases, prescribed antibacterial treatments will be used to stop the gingivitis bacteria from growing and spreading, and dental curettage will be used to clear buildups of it.  

Periodontitis  

Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that affects the soft tissue and bones around the teeth. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and irreversible gum damage, so recognising and combatting the condition is vital. Periodontitis symptoms include: 

• Swollen and irritated gums 

• Blood on your toothbrush and in your spit after teeth cleaning 

• Halitosis 

• Pus between teeth 

• Loose teeth 

• Change in gum colour (bright or dark red/purple) 

• Receding gums 

Once again, if you notice any periodontitis symptoms you should visit the dentist or dental hygienist as soon as possible. Seeking periodontitis treatment as early as possible will increase the chances of reversing damage and hopefully stop you from losing teeth.  

If you are wondering how to treat periodontitis, methods may include: 

• Antibiotics / antibacterial treatments 

• Dental curettage 

• Surgery (in advanced cases) 

Types of Dental Curettage

There are two types of dental curettage:  

Closed Curettage (Non-Surgical Curettage) 

In cases of mild to moderate periodontitis, closed (non-surgical) dental curettage will suffice as a treatment. Rather than making surgical incisions, non-surgical curettage uses scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar. 

During the procedure, plaque will be scraped off affected teeth and from any pockets that have built up, this is called scaling. After this, your dentist or dental hygienist will smooth the roots of your teeth to help them reattach to the gums, if necessary, this is called root planing. 

Scaling and root planing are often done under the effects of local anaesthetic, but this will not always be necessary. The procedure can take up to several sessions depending on the level of bacteria present. 

Open Curettage (Surgical Curettage) 

For more serious cases of periodontal disease, a dentist may need to perform an open (surgical) curettage. Open dental curettage involves lifting the tissue of your gums to clean deep pockets of bacteria and plaque.  

In severe cases of periodontal disease, a person may experience gum recession and bone loss, a condition which can lead to loosened and lost teeth. For this reason, open dental curettage is often performed in tandem with a gum graft. A gum tissue graft uses tissue from the roof of the mouth to surround an exposed root and re-secure your tooth.

When Should Dental Curettage be Done? 

Gum Disease (Periodontitis and Gingivitis) 

Gum diseases including periodontitis and gingivitis are the most common reasons why dental curettage may be performed. These conditions affect the long-term health of your teeth and gums, and curettage offers an effective solution by removing infected gum tissue and cleaning deep pockets of bacteria and plaque.  

Presence of Deep Gum Pockets 

Deep gum pockets (periodontal pockets) are a symptom of gum disease and happen due to bacteria eroding tissue around your teeth. When this tissue is eroded, a sheltered pocket where bacteria can thrive is created and this can lead to advanced stages of gum disease and tooth loss.  

Curettage of teeth can clean these pockets and reduce their size, helping your teeth to stay secure, and your gums healthy.  

Bleeding, Swollen, or Receding Gums 

If you are wondering why do gums bleed, then the answer is more than likely to be gum disease. If you do have bleeding gums though, a solution may be dental curettage and dental tartar removal. The process of curettage cleans gums and promotes tissue regeneration reducing or stopping bleeding and swelling in future.  

After Scaling and Root Planing Fails  

If scaling and root planing fail to resolve gum disease, then surgical curettage will be necessary to fully remove harmful bacteria deposits. Though scaling and root planing are effective, curettage is usually the best way to remove dental tartar and help the gums heal. 

Presence of Bone Loss 

Bone loss in the jaw can happen as a result of periodontal disease and lead to lost teeth and receding gums. Dental curettage can slow or stop the process of bone loss within the mouth, but a dental bone graft may be required if a significant loss has already occurred.

How is Dental Curettage Performed?  

1. Initial Examination and Diagnosis 

The first step in gum disease treatment (dental curettage) is understanding the extent of the problem at hand. Your dentist or dental hygienist may perform dental probing and an x-ray and examine your full dental history. After this, they should understand the extent of your gum disease and whether curettage is the correct treatment for you. 

2. Local Anaesthesia Application 

If your dentist or dental hygienist decides that curettage is how to treat gum disease effectively for you, then the procedure can begin. Depending on the type of dental curettage your dentist or dental hygienist chooses to administer, they may decide a local anaesthetic is necessary. This will keep the experience pain-free and comfortable. 

3. Removal of Diseased Gum Tissue 

Once numbed, your dentist or dental hygienist will start to remove infected gum tissue that is responsible for oral damage and gum disease. Using a curette, the dentist or dental hygienist will scrape the inner lining of gum pockets, removing the infected tissue and any debris which may be located within them. Once this is completed, the gums can heal and rejuvenate free of harmful bacteria. 

4. Root Planing and Disinfection 

In addition to the deep dental cleaning which sees pockets cleaned, your dentist or dental hygienist will perform scaling and root planing for gum health and dental tartar removal purposes. 

Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the surface of teeth as well as just below the gum line, ensuring that no buildups of harmful bacteria remain in the mouth. Root planing adds to this by smoothing the roots of teeth and making it easier for them to reattach to your gums. 

5. Post-Procedure Care and Healing 

Dental Curettage can take one, or several sessions. After gum disease treatment has finished, your gum tissue will reattach over time to the teeth, strengthening the bond and healing damage done by gum disease.  

During the healing period, it is vital to maintain good oral health to ensure that bacteria are not allowed to build up in the mouth again, and healing tissue can do so in a clean environment.   

Potential Risks and Side Effects 

As with all dental procedures, there are several potential risks and side effects associated with dental curettage. These include: 

• Irritation and bleeding: After dental curettage, it is normal to experience a level of discomfort and pain. In most cases, OTC pain relief medication should reduce this and keep you comfortable, but you may need prescription medicine if the pain is intense. 

• Mouth infections: As curettage involves the removal of bacteria through scraping, there is a chance that infected particles may enter the bloodstream and cause an infection. Hygienic measures taken by dental professionals will limit the chance of this, but it is possible. If you notice gum infection symptoms (pain, swelling, bleeding) contact your dental practitioner. 

• Gum recession: Although rare, dental curettage can sometimes lead to gum recession. 

Benefits of Dental Curettage 

There are also many benefits to dental curettage that make it one of the most popular and effective gum disease treatments, these include: 

• Reducing gum pocket depth: Shrinking gum pockets reduces the space harmful bacteria accumulate and lowers your future risk of gum disease. 

• Preventing tooth loss: Through stabilising gums and smoothing teeth roots, dental curettage reduces your chance of tooth loss. 

• Encouraging gum tissue regeneration: Eliminating harmful bacteria promotes gum tissue regeneration. 

• Eliminating gum infections: Removing bacteria stops gum disease and infections from affecting your oral health. 

Aftercare and Recovery Tips 

To ensure you minimise your chances of side effects during recovery from dental curettage, there are several lifestyle changes and practices you may want to follow. These include: 

• Avoiding spicy, acidic, or hard foods 

• Using prescription, antibacterial mouthwash to prevent infection on vulnerable gums 

• Attending follow-up consultations with your dentist or dental hygienist to check in on gum health 

• Maintaining good oral hygiene and routine, which includes regular visits to the dentist and dental hygienist 

Healthy Gums and Teeth 

Once you’re an adult, you only get one set of teeth—so protecting them is key. Advanced gum disease can be painful but can also lead to tooth loss. Luckily, tooth scaling and root planing can help preserve your smile if you develop periodontitis. 

Only a dental professional has the tools and training needed to remove the hardened plaque (tartar) that leads to gum disease. Still, consistent brushing and flossing at home play a big role in keeping your mouth healthy. Oral-B’s iO Series electric toothbrushes are designed to ensure thorough cleaning and target hard to reach areas. To help prevent future issues, ask your dentist to guide you on the best techniques for brushing, flossing, and overall oral care.