There are different treatments to periodontal disease depending on the severity and type of the disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist will evaluate the disease and provide recommendations for treatment.

The early stages of gum disease are called gingivitis and though no damage has yet been done, it is recommended that a few regular dental cleanings be done. Furthermore, your dentist will give you instructions on improving your daily cleaning. As periodontal disease progresses, the sulcus between the teeth and the gums are filled with bacteria and other irritants, which can cause damage to the gums and eventually the bone and ligaments that support the teeth.

If you suffer from advanced periodontal disease, you will need a special deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. Typically dentists will numb a specific quadrant of the mouth for this procedure in order to remove tartar, plaque and other toxins from above and below the gum line. The procedure will also remove rough spots on the root surfaces all of which helps to heal the gums and forces the pockets to shrink. Lastly, special medications or mouth rinses may be recommended to avoid further infection and encourage proper healing.

Surgery may be necessary if the scaling and root planing procedure doesn’t work. Contact us today to learn more.