Periodontal Care

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, includes diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. These are serious inflammatory disorders that affect the gums and bones supporting the teeth and can lead to the loss of your teeth, if left untreated. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It starts with the bacteria in the plaque causing an inflammation of the gums.

This involves the removal of deposits around the teeth and the roots of the teeth. These deposits include bacterial plaque (germs) and the toxins they produce and the mineralized form of plaque called calculus (tartar). These deposits cause irritation and infection of the gums and bone loss around the teeth. Scaling and root planing is a very technique-sensitive procedure that uses a combination of sonic, ultrasonic, and hand instruments.

Once your gums have been brought back to health, it is imperative that a maintenance schedule is designed to fit your needs. Typically, your teeth will be cleaned, scaled, and polished every three months. Three-month intervals help keep the plaque levels around the gums minimal and thus significantly reduce your risk of reinfection.