Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. To prevent this, a deep cleaning termed (periodontal scaling and root planning) is done to detoxify the tooth surface and roots and clear the active infection. To maintain comfort anesthetic or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is often used. If good home care recommendations and recare (periodontal maintenance) are followed, active periodontal disease can be arrested.
Scientific studies have strongly linked periodontal disease to cardiovascular disease, low weight pre-term birth, and complications with diabetes.