What are some of the treatments that my dentist might recommend for periodontal disease?
Your general dentist may treat your periodontal disease or refer you to a periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who has received additional training and specializes in the care and treatment of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. Your dentist or periodontist may recommend a non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing, also known as a “deep cleaning.” During a regular cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist will use special tools to scrape off the tartar and plaque from above and just below the gum line. In a “deep cleaning,” the dentist or hygienist scrapes the tartar and plaque (the scaling part) as in a regular cleaning, and he/she will also smooth the exposed tooth root surfaces (root planing) where the plaque and tartar form, to help get rid of the bacteria that contribute to periodontal disease.1 If non-surgical treatments are not effective or if the amount of bone loss is severe, periodontal surgery may be recommended. This treatment involves the surgical o
