Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease attacks the gums and the bone that support the teeth. It is an infectious disease that can be controlled with diligence and proper therapy.
Its successful treatment depends greatly on meticulous daily home care. Certain antibiotics and mouth rinses used judiciously can aid in treatment.
Diagnosis
Dr. Kirk and your hygienist will evaluate your gums and assess their health.
If the disease is caught in the early stages we may recommend more frequent professional cleanings. You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene habits.
Therapy
Periodontal therapy is aimed at making your mouth healthy and less susceptible to periodontal infection.
The very first line of therapy is root planing and scaling the teeth in the affected areas. This often involves using local anesthesia and then removing deposits that are under the gum tissue and between the teeth.
Further treatment could include some reshaping of tissue and even gingival grafting which will cover areas of recession.
Maintenance
It only takes twenty-four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into tartar! Daily home cleaning helps control plaque and tartar formation, but those hard to reach areas will always need special attention.
Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, we will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings (periodontal cleanings), sometimes four times a year.
Once you have periodontal disease you are never “cured”, however it is possible to keep it in check and have prolonged periods of stability.
