Maintenance

The later stage of gum disease, periodontitis, is not curable, but it is treatable. Your dental team can provide a periodontal maintenance that involves a much deeper and thorough clean, entering below the gum line.

What is periodontitis?

If gum disease is left untreated, the condition becomes more aggressive when the tissues are under attack from the bacteria. This causes the gum tissues to recede and form pockets to develop, which in turn are more vulnerable to the condition. In some cases, the bone tissue can become under attack, causing the jaw bone to reduce in density.

What does periodontal maintenance involve?

Periodontitis can be maintained through removing areas of bacteria that build up under the gum line. This prevents it from progressing any further. A hygienist can then remove deep tartar from the root surface. This is known as root planing (or debridement). As these treatments involve a deeper cleaning under the gum line, the procedure may require an anaesthetic.