Periodontal Therapy

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease it is important to start periodontal therapy as soon as possible. Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is an inflammatory disease which affects the supporting tissues of your teeth. If left untreated periodontal disease can lead to bone and tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection that much like diabetes or heart disease needs to be managed through out life. In the absence of regular maintenance and proper home care, periodontitis can relapse.

If periodontitis is caught early it can usually be treated non-surgically in our office with scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), and periodontal maintenance visits every 3-4 months. Scaling and root planing is much different than a regular cleaning. A regular cleaning is performed on patients that are considered healthy. Scaling and root planing is a much more in depth cleaning, which attempts to reduce pain, bleeding and inflammation in your gums. When successful it will reduce pocket depths and eliminate infection, which can stop the destruction of bone and soft tissue around your teeth. Thorough home care is just as important to successful treatment of periodontal disease.

After scaling and root planing most people will be placed on a 3-4 month recall. More frequent cleanings are required to maintain your periodontal health. During your follow up visits (periodontal maintenance), we will thoroughly clean your teeth and track your progress. We may refer you to a Periodontist in certain instances of more advanced disease, or cases where specific areas are not responding to non-surgical treatment. Following through with recommended treatment in conjunction with good home care is the only way to get your mouth healthy.