PERIODONTAL THERAPY

Periodontal diseases are infections of the gums, which gradually destroy the support of your natural teeth. There are numerous disease entities requiring different treatment approaches. Dental plaque which forms a sticky colorless coating on the teeth is the primary cause of gum disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Plaque and tartar cause irritation to the surrounding tissues.  When these irritants remain in the pocket space, they can cause damage to the gums and eventually, the bone that supports the teeth.  Adults over 35 lose more teeth to periodontal disease than from cavities.. 

OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF YOUR GUMS INCLUDE:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Stress
• Clenching and grinding teeth
• Medication
• Poor nutrition

Daily brushing and flossing will prevent most periodontal conditions.  It’s important to remember that periodontal disease is often extremely subtle in its early stages; that’s why attending regular checkups with a trusted dental team is so important However, there are some common symptoms that patients should look out for, including:

• Gums that regularly bleed when practicing oral hygiene
• Gum tissue that seems overly swollen, red, or tender to the touch
• Severe bad breath that lingers even after brushing/flossing/using mouthwash
• Teeth that appear gradually longer over time (a sign of a receding gum line)

We provide our personalized recommendation for your periodontal treatment after a thorough examination based on thecondition of the gums, the amount of tartar present, the depth of the pockets, and the progression of periodontitis,

Scaling & Root Planing – This initial therapy includes in-depth cleaning goes a step beyond our traditional hygiene appointments, targeting plaque and bacteria that is both underneath the gum line and gathered along the rough surfaces of the tooth roots.  The objective of these non-surgical procedures is to remove dub-gingivsl dental plaque and tartar, or calculus, which cause gingival inflammation and disease. Antibiotics or irrigation with anti-microbial mouth rinses may be recommended to help control the growth of bacteria that cause periodontitis. In some cases, it is beneficial to place antibiotic fibers within the periodontal pockets after scaling and planning. Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings usually 3-4 times a year.  At these cleaning appointments, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy and make recommendations based on the improvements. Finally, scaling androot planing may make the mouth more esthetically pleasing, and should reduce bad breath caused from food particles and bacteria in the oral cavity.