Which Is Right for You?
Advanced Gum Treatments vs Regular Cleaning
Both procedures remove plaque and tartar, but they differ in depth, anaesthesia, and what they treat.
Non-surgical deep cleaning suits patients with early to moderate periodontitis, pockets under 6 millimetres, and no major bone defects. It controls disease without cutting gum tissue, requires only local anaesthesia, and lets you return to work the same day. The limitation is that very deep pockets or irregular bone shapes may not fully resolve, leaving some infection behind.
Surgical pocket reduction is necessary when pockets exceed 6 millimetres, bone has eroded in angular defects, or teeth have become mobile. It provides visual access to root surfaces, allows bone grafting or regeneration, and produces more predictable long-term stability. It requires more healing time, temporary diet modification, and closer follow-up.
Your periodontist confirms the right approach after clinical examination, periodontal charting, and X-ray review.
