How is BOST ( bone one session treatment ) different from what hygienists do with root planing?
A. Root planing is defined as a procedure done by a dentist or more often a hygienist that uses instruments called curettes to remove plaque and calculus (calcified plaque) from the root surfaces of teeth above and below the gum line. In standard root planing technique the effective penetration under the gum tissue is limited to 4 or 5 millimeters into the periodontal pocket that exists after attachment from the gum to the roots has been lost, exposing the bone underneath. Normal root planing only accomplishes about 1/4 of the work that needs to be done to heal the bone and create conditions where the pocket can fill in permanently with healthy new attachment. As a result, root planing does not reach the infected surface of the bone or the deepest parts of the roots. The BOST treatment, on the other hand, reaches all the way down to the infected bone and root, promoting aerobic conditions and complementing aerobic oral hygiene.
