Your gums are as vital as your teeth for your overall well being. Your gums provide support for the teeth and protect the sensitive enamel around their roots. If plaque and bacteria are allowed to build up along the gums, they can actually develop an infection called periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease. This can have far-reaching effects on both a persons smile and overall health, but our hygineits are ready to help patients overcome this problem at its earliest signs.
As with any dental problem, the best approach to treating periodontal disease is to catch it as early as possible. Prevention is better than cure. Your routine cleaning is like the vaccinations you get to prevent disease. Once you have periodontal disease regular maintenance cleaning will no longer work , rather our team will do a thorough exam and determine if you will be better served with periodontal gum therapy. When we examine a patients gums during their regular checkups, well keep an eye out for early symptoms, which include redness, swelling, and sensitivity around the gum line. Frequent oral bleeding, persistent bad breath, and gum recession are more advanced symptoms, and if we notice any of them, well recommend a targeted treatment plan for a patient.
After diagnosing a patient with periodontal disease, the first step to getting rid of it is to eliminate the accumulation of plaque and bacteria located around the gums and roots of the teeth. To do this, we can perform a specialized dental cleaning called scaling and root planing. Our hygienists are well versed with ultrasonic and hand scaling because every patient is different and feel comfortable with different techniques we make sure we cater to their preferences when it comes to scaling and root planning. Our doctors will make sure that the patient is numbed up with localized numbing to ensure patient comfort. Once the buildup around the gums has been broken up (scaling), well then reshape the roots of the teeth to make plaque less likely to gather on them in the future (root planing), lowering the chances of periodontal disease coming back.
During periodontal treatment we remove the tartur that harbors the bacteria. In addition we offer localized antibacterial treatment to ensure the site does not get infected afterwards. Periodontal disease bacteria primarily tends to gather in the small spaces between the teeth and gums called periodontal pockets. It quickly dries and then slowly dissolves, allowing it to reach and kill any remaining hidden bacteria.
Periodontal disease is a very persistent infection, so after an initial treatment in our dental office, a patient will need regular follow-up care to prevent it from coming back. Every patient has different needs and our highly experienced hygienist will make sure they provide you with a regimen thats best suited to you and your dental needs. Periodontal maintenance is a two-pronged approach. Firstly, a patient will need to practice consistent oral hygiene at home, brushing and flossing every day, and they will also need to visit our office more often for regular cleanings. This is proven to keep periodontal disease bacteria under control and preserve a patients long-term oral health. Our hygienists are very well trained to provide suggestions to better improve our patients valued gum health.