Your dental hygienist or dentist will suggest appropriate treatment, based on your level of gum disease. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is a chronic condition that has no cure, but it can be treated.

Early gum disease is known as gingivitis, and few symptoms are expressed. In fact, some patients with gingivitis experience no symptoms. Treating gingivitis may simply involve changing your oral homecare routine and using special mouthwash. However, a deep cleaning may also be suggested if gingivitis has progressed.

Gum disease is a chronic condition that has no cure, but it can be treated.

Deep cleaning takes a few hours and is often performed in two visits. It involves scaling, which is removing hardened plaque (tartar or calculus) from below the gum line, and root planing, which is smoothing rough areas on teeth roots. If you have periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease, you may need surgery. Often, a general dentist will refer patients with periodontitis to a periodontist for treatment.