If you are in the earliest stage, gingivitis, a higher frequency of ordinary dental cleanings may be sufficient. By removing tartar before it has a chance to work deep beneath the gums, and through vigilant home care, the gaps between gum and tooth can be lessened.
Periodontitis requires deeper cleaning to get at plaque and tartar that has lodged itself further beneath the gums than normal. With anesthetic this procedure will seem similar to a typical cleaning. Called dental scaling, this deep removal of tartar is aimed at preventing further bone loss and degradation of the root.