Gum Disease Treatment

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, have loose teeth, bleeding gums, or severe tartar build up, you may have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the teeth’s supporting structures, including the gingival, the bone beneath it and the periodontal ligament that attaches the tooth to its bony socket. Plaque and tartar, which contain harmful bacteria, affect not only the crown portion of the tooth (above the gums), but also the surface of the roots below the gums. As the bacteria release toxins into the surrounding tissue, the body’s immune system fights, resulting in an inflammatory reaction. Unless the source of the toxins is removed, this inflammation continues and bone and supporting tissues are lost as a result.

How is Periodontal Disease Treated?

Although we cannot replace the bone lost due to periodontal disease, we can halt the progression, prevent further bone loss and restore your mouth to a healthy state.

Depending on the severity of the condition, one of the following treatment recommendations will be made:

  • Scaling – removes hard deposits (called tartar or calculus) from the tooth below the gums.
  • Root Planing – removes tartar from the root surface and smooths any rough root irregularities in order to promote healing.
  • Localized or Systemic Antibiotic delivery – prevents reattachment of bacteria in cleaned sites.
  • Periodontal Surgery – removes bacteria from beneath your gums and reshapes the bones that support the teeth to make cleaning easier and prevent future cases of gum damage. Periodontal surgery is used only in severe cases.
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