Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the presence of oral health versus the type and severity of gum disease, also referred to as Periodontal Disease or Periodontitis. The appropriate treatment will be recommended after your Dentist and Hygienist collect and evaluate all necessary data.
If periodontal health is evident or disease is caught very early on in a mild/moderate stage commonly known as Gingivitis, generally no damage has been done and 1 or 2 regular cleanings will be recommended. These cleanings, known as Prophylaxis, will remove mild/moderate hardened plaque called calculus which can only be removed with dental instruments, and will also remove the invisible sticky film known as plaque, followed by polishing to remove residual plaque and staining. Oral hygiene instructions will always be reviewed to reinforce good home care and a regular individualized cleaning interval will be established.
If disease has progressed to a more advanced stage, a deeper cleaning referred to as Scaling and Root Planing will be recommended. With Periodontal Disease, the space between the teeth and gums is more heavily populated by bacteria, plaque, calculus and tartar, causing detrimental irritation to the surrounding gums and adjacent bone. If left in this space for too long, more significant gum and bone deterioration will occur, ultimately affecting the support of the teeth. Beyond tooth support, the bacterial colonies produce a chronic inflammatory response in the body, which systemically destroys bone and gum tissue. The deeper the periodontal pockets as a result of bone loss, the higher the bacterial load, making entry into the bloodstream much more likely, thus infecting other parts of the body.
It is of paramount importance to halt the progression of Periodontal Disease, which can present in many forms and stages, before it causes further damage. Scaling and Root Planing is usually done 2 quadrants of the mouth at a time while being numb, although some cases allow for the full mouth treatment to be done in 1 visit. Scaling and Root Planing specifically refers to removing the bacteria, plaque, calculus and tartar above and below the gum line with ultrasonic and hand instruments (scaling), while subsequently smoothing rough and infected root surfaces (root planing), which have a higher likelihood of allowing these toxins to repopulate if not treated. Gum tissue will visibly heal and often times these deeper pockets as a result of bone loss will shrink to more manageable depths, although that bone will never be regenerated.
Irrigation, medications and special mouth rinses may be recommended to help control infection and aid in healing. If these pockets don't adequately heal after conventional non-surgical Scaling and Root Planing, further periodontal surgery or treatment may be necessary to reduce pocket depths. Your General Dentist may also recommend that you see a Periodontist (specialist of gums and supporting bone) if the severity of the Periodontal Disease doesn't respond favorably to the conventional non-surgical treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns about your Periodontal status, please don't hesitate to discuss them with your Dentist in the office or call Dental Arts of Boynton Beach at (561) 767-9595.