Has anyone had root scaling and planing done by a dentist here and found it beneficial? It seems to be very common here and the dentist I saw here said I need it because of tartar build-up underneath my gums blah blah. I've read about it on lots of websites (all American) which all praise it. I'm just suspicious because of the reputation American dentists have for over-treatment and because I've never heard of the whole procedure before moving to the US. Is it ever done in Europe? I'm planning to go for a second opinion in any case. How is it supposed to work with second opinions, do you ask for copies of x-rays from the first doctor or just let the second one take new ones?

My dentist told me the same. I told them no thanks. I queried my old dentist in the UK about it by email and they said to not have it done as the benefits are questionable and probably dont outweigh the costs and risks.

Thanks for the reply. Did your dentist mention what the risks are?

Haven't heard about it either....dentist over here did mention some things not to bother with unless you have seriously messed up teeth, and I think that was one of the things....My dentist is pretty good, but the waiting list to see him is stupidly long, 3 months...but there pretty good at calling you up if someone cancels...

Oh just the usual risks associated with anethesia (its the whole mouth numbed), and having metal tools shoved under all your gums and scraped over your teeth roots in the jaw...permanent numbness, infection, bleeding, mouth trauma, etc.

Eeeeek! Don't do it unless absolutely necessary!

I had it done when we first moved to the US. I chose a Chinese dentist as that was what I was used to in Singapore (where we lived prior to moving here).

Odd that the Chinese dentist whom we'd used in Singapore (who studied for his degrees in Edinburgh and Sydney....I always take a peek at their certificates on their walls) and lectured at conferences had never seen the need to do the root planing and scaling, but the guy in NJ did and to be honest I'd never heard of this procedure in the UK or Far East .....

.....It was the most painful, horrible procedure I've experienced, despite having local anaesthetic. It's gruesome having sharp needles inserted up high inside ones gums to 'clean out' any residue. He did half of the work one day and I had to return one week later for the other half of it. I don't know how he even managed to do the procedure, goodness knows how he could see what he was doing when my gums had blood pouring out of them.

The dentist was thoroughly competent, but he was very dour and had a cold personality and I guess he was raking it in as he had a very nice Mercedes in the car park. His dental assistant and the receptionist were both miserable and unfriendly. I changed to a female dentist whom my husband chose at random (my experience with the Chinese dentist had put him off from going there) and she doesn't do anything unless it's called for.

Dr. Debbie (as she likes to be called) is an hilarious Jewish woman who sings to you, tells rude jokes and constantly chatters away as she's working....I know all about her divorce with her 'mean' ex and her love/sex life with her current boyfriend....it's actually a fun event going to the dentist believe it or not LOL!

Just an afterthought and comparison between the US-UK health concerns:

In the US it's pretty much the norm for newborn baby boys to be circumcised soon after delivery (or a week later in a 'brith' ceremony if Jewish). Advocates say it's for 'health' reasons....I've heard of spurious claims that it's to prevent penile cancer.

In the UK it's almost unheard of for baby boys to be circumcised. I've never heard of any British chap having penile cancer.

Need I say more?

What's the thing with all the dentists insisting on being called doctors too? And Opticians as well....

Never called my dentist back in blighty Dr, always Mr, and same with anyone at the opticians....or is that just me being weird?

And vets are called Dr here as are consultants.

Planing is called root debridement in the UK according to the other half (dentist). He says it's fine, it's not done as much as it should be on the NHS because the money for it's so p*ss poor.

Bob, dunno about opticians but dentists aren't called doctor in the UK because it's a bachelor undergraduate degree in the UK not a doctoral one like Canada/USA.

Well there you go. One dentist says no another says yes. I guess you pays yer money and makes yer choice.

The problem with anything to do with the teeth is that I have no idea what is necessary and what not It feels just horrible not to be able to trust the dentist. She was recommended by a friend of mine but my friend has near perfect teeth so never had much done apart from basic cleaning.

We lived in Switzerland before moving to New York and my Swiss dentist definitely didn't think I had a gum problem.

There's a discussion on Mr. Dentist / Dr. Dentist here:
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?...8&topic=4380.0

Root scaling and planing is one of the effective ways to treat gum disease before it becomes too late. the procedure cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. You may need a local anesthetic to numb your gums and the roots of your teeth.

If your gums start to pull away from your teeth, or there is a substantial tartar deposits on the teeth, then this procedure is one of the effective ways.

be aware of periodontitis disease.

You sound exactly like my dentist
However, my gums are not pulling away nor do they look anything like the photos I've seen of gingivitis/peridontitis

In any case, thank everyone for listening to my rant and for your replies.