Removal of dental plaque and calculus on the root surface is called which procedure?

• A. Subgingival curettage
• B. Scaling
• C. Root planing
• D. Perioceutics

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is debriding the root surface within a periodontal pocket to remove the bacterial biofilm and deposits that sustain disease. Subgingival curettage focuses on the subgingival space: it involves removing the inflamed pocket lining and cleaning the underlying root surface, which includes removing plaque and calculus that have accumulated under the gingival margin. By deleting this subgingival tissue and deposits, the procedure aims to reduce the bacterial reservoir and allow healing of the periodontium, effectively cleansing the root surface where infection persists.

While scaling and root planing are also ways to clean root surfaces, curettage is the procedure most associated with addressing the pocket environment directly, making it the best fit for removing plaque and calculus from the root surface beneath the gum line. Perioceutics, on the other hand, refers to antimicrobial therapies rather than mechanical debridement.