Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and tissue that support your teeth. It is the major cause of adult tooth loss, affecting three out of four people at some point in their life. Periodontal diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis.
The initial treatment of periodontal disease is to remove bacteria and debris (scaling) from the gum pockets around the teeth. The roots of the teeth are smoothed to remove infected root tissue and inhibit future attachment of bacteria. This procedure is usually done over two visits typically no more than 2 weeks apart, and uses a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure.