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Non-Surgical Gum Treatment:
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Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and
the bone that surrounds the teeth, and it's the leading cause of adult tooth
loss. Stopping this condition begins with a thorough diagnosis.
The main cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque, a
sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth.
The bacteria in plaque invade the spaces between teeth and gums and begin
producing toxins. These toxins combined with your body's reaction to
them, destroys the bone around your teeth. |
| Once bone has been lost, it never grows back on
its own. Loss of bone can lead to loss of teeth. |
Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
 | persistent bad breath |
| bleeding gums |
| swollen or tender gums |
| gums pulling away from teeth |
| loose teeth |
Scaling and Root Planing:
The goal of scaling and root planing is to eliminate the source
of periodontal infection by removing the plaque, tartar, and
bacterial toxins from the root surfaces below the gum line.
When you have active periodontal disease, routine cleanings
are not enough, because they usually remove plaque and tartar
from above the gum line only. We use special instruments to
carefully and meticulously remove the plaque and tartar from around
and beneath the gum line and then smooth the root surfaces.
This eliminates the source of the infection and helps your gums
heal. As they heal, the gums will tighten around the teeth.
You may schedule your scaling and root planing over several
appointments. This way we can promote your comfort, check
the healing and help you fine tune your home care efforts.
Ultrasonic Scaling:
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Ultrasonic scaling is one of the most effective procedures
for treating periodontal disease. An ultrasonic scaler consists of a wand
with a small scaling tip that produces a soft ultrasonic vibration. The
small,
quick vibrations in combination with a gentle water flow, thoroughly remove
tartar while decreasing the number of destructive bacteria beneath
the gum line. Removing tartar and bacteria are crucial to preventing
periodontal disease.
Ultrasonic scaling has many benefits over hand scaling alone:
| more efficient removal of plaque and tartar |
| less need for hand scaling |
| greater comfort for you |
Medications:
We also may prescribe an antibiotic or antimicrobial agent in
conjunction with scaling and root planing in the treatment of your
periodontal disease. Your dentist will give you more information
about these types of treatment options. Be aware that no
medication is a cure for periodontal disease. Once bone is lost,
no medication can bring it back. You will still need to be
very thorough with your daily oral hygiene at home and see us
regularly for exams and professional cleanings.
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