Gum Therapy
The foremost cause of gum disease is plaque buildup, which forms on your teeth continuously. This sticky, clear substance can be somewhat eliminated with regular, twice-a-day flossing and brushing of the teeth; however, these methods do not adequately rid the teeth and gums of all plaque, so routine professional cleaning is essential.
Almost 75% of the general population does not get their teeth professionally cleaned on a basis regular enough to prevent gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), which, if left untreated, turns into periodontitis (advanced gum disease).
Typical non-surgical gum treatments include root planning and scaling, and are usually advised if pockets exist between your gums and teeth that exceed a depth of three millimeters. Scaling and root planing is considered “conventional periodontal therapy,” and differs from regular professional cleanings by cleaning deeper beneath the gum line and eliminating more than the soft, sticky plaque that is removed by general cleaning.
Local freezing can be provided if a patient hasn’t had a cleaning for a long time and finds a scaling or root planning session uncomfortable.