What is Periodontal Disease and How is it Treated?
Periodontal simply means "the tissue around the teeth." Our office specialize in the treatment and surgery of this area, which is often characterized by gum disease. Plaque is the most common element causing gum disease.
Unfortunately, periodontal-related problems are often discovered after they have persisted for an extended period of time. Proper oral hygiene, daily dental care and regular dental checkups will minimize the risk of gum disease. Gum disease ranges from mild (gingivitis) to moderate (periodontitis) to the severe (periodontitis). Treatments are available for every case of gum disease.
Common problems associated with gum disease:
- "Long" teeth (receding gum lines expose the root portions of your teeth)
- Discolored or deteriorating tooth structure
- Gum depressions (holes in between the teeth in the gum tissue)
- Infected gum line (discoloration or inflammation of the gum tissue)
- Tooth loss or tooth movement
The effects of gum disease can be damaging to your dental health. However, through proper preventive care and oral hygiene, you can avoid problems associated with gum disease.
We meticulously clean the teeth, gums, and root surfaces by intensive scaling, root planings and curettage. We infiltrate into the pockets formed by the calculus and plaque antimicrobial agents which destroy the bacteria which secrete the damaging toxins. We routinely polish the surfaces of the teeth to prevent adherence of bacteria and plaque to tooth surfaces. Fluoride treatments are routinely administered to change the chemical pH of the oral environment, and harden existing tooth surfaces. It may be necessary to prescribe antibiotics to further reduce the spread of the disease. Microscopic testing is done regularly throughout the treatment sequence.
Periodontal Program
Our periodontal program is wellness oriented and provides the factors of time and relationship that help eliminate the constant rebounding of the disease many persons experience every time stress or other factors cause the immune system to take a dive. We have incorporated the freedom to treat an individual as frequently as necessary based on healing capacities and commitment. We incorporate either a non-surgical approach which includes scaling, root planing, curettage, antimicrobial agents and fluoride rinses, and/or surgical approach which will recontour existing anatomical problems. Tantamount to the success of either choice is a stringent oral hygiene and plaque control program which is an integral part of the value we place on your teeth.
Home Care
The patient will follow the daily home care routine of brushing, flossing and administering bacterial agents such as sodium bicarbonate, peroxide, sodium fluoride, and antimicrobial mouth rinses. Also, the patient will make use of a water irrigation device with antiseptic solution.
The effects of gum disease can be damaging to your dental health. However, through proper preventive care and oral hygiene, you can avoid problems associated with gum disease.