What treatment options do I have for gum disease?
Periodontal disease cannot be cured, but there are treatments to help alleviate the symptoms and prevent further damage to your oral health. Damage caused by periodontal disease can be reversed, as well. To keep treatments minimally invasive, gum disease should be treated at the first sign of symptoms. We offer cosmetic plastic surgical procedures to improve health too.
Scaling and root planning is a non-surgical treatment also known as a deep cleaning. To scale teeth, the hygienist administers local anesthetic then removes calculus below the gum line. Root planning involves smoothing rough spots on teeth roots for the purpose of eliminating areas where bacteria accumulate.
Periodontal plastic surgery is necessary in the extreme stages of bone erosion and tooth loss occurs. Most general dentists refer patients for periodontal surgery. This can be inconvenient and time consuming for the patients.
What is Periodontal Laser Decontamination?
Scaling and root planning is the most effective, non-surgical treatment for gum disease. It is a relatively simple procedure that we complete in one office visit. Using special tools, we will thoroughly clean out tartar from the tooth roots, periodontal pockets, and surface gum tissue. We will then smooth the surface of the roots so that it is more difficult for tartar to accumulate. As tartar accumulates, it works its way down to the root. When we scale the teeth, calculus deposits are removed around each tooth and the surrounding structures. After scaling and root planning, the new Laser Decontamination procedure painlessly sterilizes any remaining bacteria.
The hygienist may use an ultrasonic tool that produces vibrations to knock calculus deposits loose. During planning and scaling treatments, patient comfort is important to us. We may administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. However, the procedure itself doesn’t produce much discomfort. After the procedure, patients will resume their normal oral hygiene routine. If you maintain a clean mouth by properly caring for your teeth and gums at home, you reduce your risk of the infection progressing. We will suggest a more frequent cleaning visit so that we can check the progress of your healing.
Are there medications involved in gum disease treatment?
In some cases, topical or time-release antibiotics may be placed on the gums to eliminate infection. For some patients, we may prescribe antibiotics to be taken after scaling and root planning. As mentioned above, a local anesthetic will be administered before the procedure to ensure your comfort.
What is Periodontal Resurfacing Procedures?
If a deep cleaning does not stop the progression of gum disease, surgical procedures may be necessary for advanced cases. Our goal is to practice conservative, minimally invasive, holistic dentistry – even in the area of periodontics. We will not perform unnecessary procedures. If we believe that you need surgical treatment, we will discuss your options and answer your questions.