What is a common outcomes expected after a periodontal cleaning for a patient with chronic generalized periodontal disease?

A common outcome after a periodontal cleaning for a patient with chronic generalized periodontal disease is indeed a reduction of inflammation and a decrease in pocket depth by 1-2 mm. This outcome reflects the typical response of the periodontal tissues to non-surgical therapy such as scaling and root planing, which aims to remove plaque, calculus, and bacterial toxins from the tooth surfaces and root structures.

After the cleaning, the inflammation within the periodontal tissues tends to improve, leading to a decrease in the swelling and redness often associated with periodontal disease. Alongside this improvement in inflammation, a modest reduction in pocket depth is also expected as the tissues gain health from the removal of irritants. Typically, reductions of 1-2 mm represent realistic expectations post-treatment, especially in chronic cases where the disease has been longstanding.

While patients may experience some attachment gain and greater reductions in pocket depth under ideal circumstances or with more advanced treatments, these are not guaranteed outcomes for every patient after just a cleaning. The primary focus and the most consistently observed improvements following cleaning procedures are the reduction of inflammation and minor decreases in probe depths.