Professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) is a form of non-surgical periodontal treatment. Periodontal treatment involves cleaning the teeth and root surfaces from calculus, plaque, toxins and diseased tissues. PMPR is also known as “deep scaling” or “root surface debridement” and is best done under local anaesthetic (use of injections to numb your gum) to avoid discomfort and allow thorough cleaning to be done.

The aim of the treatment is to thoroughly and systematically clean all affected root surfaces from the harmful material and toxins that can cause further destruction of bone and supporting dental tissues.

We normally divide your mouth into four parts and clean one part per visit. This means you will need to visit us four times and may need several injections to numb your gums.

The success of this treatment depends on many factors. You are central and crucial in maintaining low plaque levels in the mouth, as well as managing the other risk factors. It is for this reason that periodontal treatment does not guarantee stabilising the condition.

You might experience some discomfort after the visit, such as:

• bleeding for a day or two – this should calm down on its own
• tender or sore gums after the procedure – avoid very hot and spicy food for a couple of days
• sore or bruised gums due to the injections
• sensitive teeth – if your teeth tend to be sensitive to hot and cold they may be more sensitive after the cleaning
• gum recession – when your gums are inflamed, they are tender and swollen. After the cleaning they heal and shrink. You might notice that your gums recede more after the treatment is completed – this is a good sign
• numbness from the injection – this might last three to four hours. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot before it wears off as you might burn yourself. Also avoid talking or eating as you might bite your lips, cheek or tongue and it may be painful after the numbness wears off.

As a result of periodontal treatment and therapy, you may also notice the following:

• increased susceptibility to root surface decay
• temporary increases in tooth mobility
• elongation of the teeth
• a black triangle appearance and shadowing between the teeth where the dental papilla has shrunk. This is irreversible.