Final answer:
Root planing is a dental procedure used to treat gum disease by removing plaque and calculus from the tooth roots and making the root surfaces smooth. This helps to reduce inflammation and promote healing of the gums.
Step-by-step explanation:
Root planing is a dental procedure used to treat gum disease, specifically periodontitis. During root planing, a dental professional uses special instruments to remove plaque and calculus from the tooth roots, making the root surfaces smooth. This helps to remove bacteria and reduce inflammation, promoting healing of the gums and preventing further damage to the teeth and supporting structures.
By creating a smooth texture on the root surfaces, root planing helps to eliminate the rough areas where bacteria can accumulate and thrive. It also allows the gums to reattach more securely to the roots, reducing the depth of the periodontal pockets. Root planing is often performed along with scaling, which involves the removal of plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces.