PERIODONTAL

In its early stages, periodontal disease is most often referred to as gum disease or gingivitis. It is an infection of the gums surrounding your teeth, and, if left untreated, it can cause major, permanent damage.​

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If you develop gum disease and do not get it treated, it will progress into its more severe stages, known as periodontal disease. At this stage, the condition is irreversible and may cause tooth, tissue, and bone damage. Periodontal disease has also been shown to affect your overall health and has been linked to being a partial cause to strokes, heart conditions, and diabetes. Because symptoms are typically not evident until there is bone loss, it is important to visit your dentist regularly to check for signs of periodontal disease and receive any necessary treatment.

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Periodontal therapy, in some cases, can include non-surgical treatments such as scaling and root planing, and deep cleanings; both treatments help remove bacteria and plaque that have built up in the gums. Antibiotics can also be used in conjunction with these treatments. If your periodontal disease has progressed and caused tooth damage, our dentists may recommend dental implants or bridges.

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Surgical treatments are also possible if the disease has caused bone or tissue damage. The most common surgical treatments are tissue or bone grafts, where damaged areas are resurfaced to help discourage additional bacteria growth. Gingivectomy is another surgical procedure that may be performed. In this treatment, excess tissue that has formed from gum pockets is removed and tooth shapes are restored.

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We also do scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is one of the most common and effective treatments recommended for gum disease before it becomes severe. This is a deep cleaning treatment that includes two main steps:

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Scaling: In scaling, we remove plaque and tartar (dental calculus) from the tooth surface.

Root Planing: This step involves cleaning the roots of the teeth, smoothing the root to remove bacterial toxins.

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The goals of scaling and root planing are to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and to halt the progress of the disease. The scaling and root planing treatment may be split up into several appointments, in which we treat one section of the mouth at each appointment.

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Scaling and root planing may be combined with other types of periodontal therapy, such as antibiotic treatment. For most patients, scaling and root planing is enough to prevent periodontal disease from progressing further. 

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