Treament Of Gum Disease
FLOSS FOR YOUR FUTURE
Periodontitis
Keep your teeth for life.
Do your gums bleed when brushing or flossing? If so, you probably have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). Periodontitis leads to tooth loss if left untreated.
Additionally, the bacteria active in gum disease have been linked to many diseases that affect your whole body including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and even cancer. During your comprehensive exam, we will examine the state of your gums and recommend appropriate treatment.
Gingivitis Cleanings
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. As your body reacts to long-term exposure to plaque and calculus on your teeth, your gums become inflamed. You may notice tender, red, and puffy gums as well as bleeding when you brush and floss. During this stage, gum disease can still be reversed.
At a gingivitis cleaning, we will use a needle-free anesthetic to ensure your comfort as we clean your teeth. Afterwards, most patients are able to return to a 6 month prophylaxis (regular cleaning). Come see us at Smile Corners soon so we can help stop and reverse the disease before damage to your gums becomes permanent and irreversible!
SRP and Laser Therapy
Scaling and root planing (SRP or deep cleaning) is prescribed for patients with stage II or stage III periodontitis. At this point the gum disease has caused irreversible damage involving bone and attachment loss. Anesthetic will be used to ensure your comfort during the deep cleaning.
Following your deep cleaning, you will need to return in 4-6 weeks for a re-evaluation of your gums, followed by periodontal maintenance every 3-4 months. It is important to follow up on your periodontal maintenance to stop your gum disease from getting worse and causing more serious health issues!
Periodontal Maintenance
After bone loss has occurred, the newly exposed root structure makes home-care and removal of plaque and calculus more difficult. Periodontal maintenance is necessary to maintain the health of your gums and prevent the need for further deep cleanings. At each periodontal maintenance visit, we will monitor your gum disease and thoroughly clean your teeth and gums to prevent further disease progression.