Deep Cleaning & Gum Treatment

Our practice focuses on diagnosing and preventing gum disease at the earliest point. You are screened for it at every visit. Once diagnosed, treatment can include non-surgical treatment here in the office for earlier stages, and referral to a specialist when that is genuinely the better route.

The gap between tooth and gum is called a pocket. Healthy pockets are no more than about 3 millimetres deep. If they are deeper than 5 millimetres, a deep cleaning — scaling and root planing — may be recommended. The American Academy of Periodontology recommends every adult have a periodontal evaluation each year.

Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and from the pocket between tooth and gum, using ultrasonic instruments or manual tools. Root planing removes plaque and tartar from the root surfaces. A follow-up visit may be needed to confirm things are improving.

Antibiotic therapy such as Arestin can also form part of the plan. Follow-up care, usually every three months, reduces the risk of the disease progressing. Left untreated, periodontal disease is associated with a raised risk of other conditions, including pre-term delivery in pregnancy, respiratory disease, diabetes and heart disease.