Periodontal treatment

Depending upon the degree and type of disease, periodontal treatments will vary. After our dentist and dental hygienist have evaluated your teeth for periodontal disease, they will recommend treatment as appropriate.

What causes Periodontal and Gum Disease?

When the pocket between the gums and the tooth (the sulcus) becomes full of tartar, plaque, and bacteria, it causes irritation to the gums. This is called periodontal disease. Damage to the gums and the jawbone can occur if these irritants stay in the pocket space.The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth."

Gingivitis

When caught early on, gingivitis can be treated with only one or two normal cleanings. Your visit will include a lesson on doing your best in oral hygiene practices and remembering to have your teeth cleaned professionally on a regular basis.

Periodontitis

With later stage disease, special periodontal cleaning may be needed. This cleaning is called scaling or root planing. This is a deep cleaning process. This process is done in 4 parts. Each quadrant of the mouth is numbed in isolation for it's section of the procedure. When this procedure is done, toxins, plaque and tartar will be removed from both beneath and above the gum line with a process called scaling. Then the root surfaces will be cleared of any rough spots with a process called planing. Pockets will shrink and gum tissue will heal following this procedure. Your dentist may recommend an electric tooth brush, medicated mouth rinse or even medication to help with healing and to control infection.

After scaling and root planing, the pockets should heal. If they do not, periodontal surgery may be in order. This procedure will reduce the depth of the pockets and make it easier to clean the teeth. A Periodotist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of the gums and the bones that support them and the teeth. Your dentist may give you a referral to this type of doctor.