Non-surgical periodontal therapy
Diagnosis, prevention and conservative treatment of gum and periodontal disease, with long-term maintenance protocols.
Periodontitis is a chronic infection of the tissues that support the tooth: gum, ligament and bone. In its early stages it does not hurt. Bleeding gums, bad breath, recession and tooth mobility appear when the disease is already advanced. Early diagnosis, with periodontal probing and radiographs, is the most effective way not to lose teeth.
Non-surgical therapy, also called cause-related therapy, removes plaque and calculus above and below the gum line with hand and ultrasonic instruments, under local anaesthesia when needed. It is the first and most important step for every patient with periodontitis, and for many it is also the only one required. It is always followed by a re-evaluation a few weeks later, which establishes whether further treatment is needed.
The result is maintained with a personalised programme of periodic sessions, calibrated on individual risk: smoking, diabetes, family predisposition and response to therapy. It is the least spectacular part of the treatment and the one that decides whether the teeth stay in the mouth for the decades that follow.
When it is indicated
- Gingivitis and periodontitis at every stage, as the first phase of treatment
- Bleeding gums, bad breath, red or receding gums
- Patients with risk factors: smoking, diabetes, family history of periodontitis
- Maintenance after surgical therapy or implant rehabilitation
- Mucositis and peri-implantitis in their early stages
How it works
- 01Diagnosis and staging: full-mouth probing, radiographs and classification according to the 2018 international system.
- 02Home-care instruction: techniques and tools tailored to you, because no therapy works without daily plaque control.
- 03Subgingival instrumentation by quadrant or in one or two closely spaced sessions, under local anaesthesia where needed.
- 04Re-evaluation after six to eight weeks: new probing to measure the response and decide whether further therapy is needed.
- 05Supportive periodontal therapy every three to six months, depending on individual risk.
Frequently asked questions
Can periodontitis be cured?
It can be controlled. Lost bone does not grow back on its own, but the disease can be arrested and kept stable for decades with therapy and regular check-ups. In favourable defects, regenerative surgery can recover part of the support.
Is scaling and root planing painful?
It is performed under local anaesthesia, so there is no pain during the session. Increased sensitivity to cold in the following days is possible and tends to settle on its own.
How often do I need maintenance?
It depends on individual risk: typically every three months in the first year after therapy, then every three to six months. Stretching the intervals too far is the most common cause of relapse.
Does periodontitis affect general health?
The scientific literature documents associations between periodontitis and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other systemic conditions. Treating periodontitis improves glycaemic control in diabetic patients and is part of good overall health management.