What is the purpose of scaling and root planing in periodontal therapy?

• A. Remove supra- and subgingival calculus; smooths root surfaces to disrupt biofilm and promote gingival reattachment
• B. Extract the tooth
• C. Create new pockets
• D. Apply antibiotics into sulcus

Answer: (A)

The main idea behind scaling and root planing is to mechanically clean the tooth by removing both supra- and subgingival calculus and then smoothing the root surfaces. This combination disrupts the biofilm and removes the bacterial colonies and endotoxins that fuel periodontal inflammation. With the root surfaces now smooth, gingival fibers can reattach to the tooth more easily, leading to reduced inflammation and a decrease in pocket depth. It’s a non-surgical initial therapy aimed at arresting disease and improving long-term periodontal health, not at extracting teeth. While antibiotics can be used as adjuncts in some cases, they’re not the primary purpose of the procedure.