The goal of periodontitis treatment is to thoroughly clean the pockets around the teeth and avoid damaging the surrounding bone, Scaling. Scraping removes tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces and under gums. Periodontitis is common, but largely preventable. It's usually the result of poor oral hygiene.
Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and having regular dental checkups can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and may also reduce the chances of developing it. The first step in treating periodontal disease is a conservative, non-surgical approach called root scraping and smoothing (SRP). A dentist or dental hygienist provides this treatment by scraping and removing plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and roots with instruments designed for this purpose. They then smooth out any roughness in the roots to prevent bacteria from building up again easily.
Sometimes, this procedure may take more than one visit. The administration of a local anesthetic can help avoid any discomfort. After this process, the gums will heal and reattach to healthy, clean tooth surfaces. In a few weeks, your dentist will evaluate your healing and decide if further treatment is needed.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If gum disease goes beyond gingivitis, the first step in treating gum disease usually involves peeling (scarring) and smoothing the roots (Play-ning). This treatment can be done in more than one visit, depending on your personal needs. Gingivitis can be controlled and treated with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning.
More severe forms of periodontal disease can also be successfully treated, but may require more extensive treatment. Such treatment may include a thorough cleaning of the root surfaces of the teeth below the gums, medications prescribed to be taken by mouth or placed directly under the gums, and sometimes corrective surgery. We have a standard adult membership plan and a periodontal therapy plan, which may be helpful if you have a history of periodontitis. They are also incredibly easy to care for because they require the same oral hygiene as natural teeth, making it easier to prevent future periodontitis problems or tooth decay in the rest of the teeth.
CDC efforts include (developing measures for use in periodontal disease surveillance at the state and local levels), (improving the validity of prevalence estimates derived from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) by improving the accuracy of the testing protocols used in this national survey and (the development of simple measures for the detection of periodontal disease in clinical settings).