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 scaling and root planing works for early to moderate gum disease with pocket depths up to 5 to 6 millimetres. The periodontist uses local anaesthesia, instruments reach below the gumline, and most patients return to normal eating the same day. The limitation is that it cannot regenerate bone already lost or reduce very deep pockets effectively.
Surgical flap procedures become necessary when pockets exceed 6 millimetres, bone defects are visible on X-ray, or teeth have become mobile. This requires lifting the gum, cleaning the root surface directly, and sometimes adding bone graft material. Healing takes 1 to 2 weeks for initial soft tissue closure, with full maturation over several months. Costs are higher due to surgical time, materials, and follow-up visits.
The periodontist confirms the right approach after clinical examination, probing measurements, and X-ray review at our Advanced Gum Treatments consultation.
