Periodontal Treatments

What are my Periodontal Treatment Options?

If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, there are a variety of treatment options depending on the details of your situation and the severity of the disease. We always start with the least invasive options, which are non-surgical. However, in more serious cases, surgery may be necessary.

What Non-Surgical Treatment Options are available to me?

The first line of defense against gum disease is a unique type of cleaning called periodontal therapy, also known as scaling and root planing.  In this procedure, an ultrasonic cleaning device is used to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth where regular homecare aids are ineffective and can't reach: under the gum line, on the tooth, and around the root. Then, the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothed. This provides a healthy, clean surface that makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth.

If you address your gum disease before it becomes severe, periodontal therapy may be the only treatment you need. However, as with any dental procedure, after-care is vital. In order to keep your teeth in good shape and resist future occurrences of active infection, you must have regular dental hygiene cleanings, brush and floss daily, eat a healthy diet, and avoid tobacco use. Even after successful therapy, if you don't attend to your teeth as recommended it's likely that gum disease will develop again. Depending on your periodontal status, it may be advised by your dental hygienist and dentist to have a maintenance appointment every three, four or six months. 

What are my Surgical Treatment Options?

If the tissue or bone surrounding your teeth is too damaged to be repaired with non-surgical treatment, several surgical procedures are available to prevent severe damage and to restore a healthy smile. We will recommend you consult with a local periodontal specialist to determine the procedure that is best suited to the condition of your teeth and gums so that you can maintain the healthiest smile possible.