Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a severe infection of the gums. Some common signs of periodontal disease include swollen and bleeding gums, unexplained bleeding, loose teeth, pain, and bad breath. When left untreated, this severe infection can spread to other parts of the oral cavity and even cause tooth loss. If you have periodontal disease, it’s best to get it treated before it escalates to its advanced stages.
At Wellesley Dental Arts, we offer non-invasive periodontal therapy, also known as non-surgical periodontics. Non-surgical periodontics involves scaling and root planing as well as antibiotics and antimicrobials.
Plaque, the sticky material produced as a result of bacterial activity in your mouth, causes gum disease. When plaque hardens, it forms tartar. Tartar causes inflammation of the gum tissues. Practicing proper dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular dental exams, lowers your risk for gum disease.
Some habits, such as excessive smoking, also put you at a higher risk for gum disease. Individuals may also be genetically predisposed to gum disease.
Non-surgical periodontal therapies restore the good health of your gums and stop the spread of the infection. In particular, scaling and root planing involves the extensive removal of plaque and tartar deposits from above and below the gum line. Scaling and root planing are better known as deep cleaning.
Six weeks after your first scaling and root planing procedure, our dentist will schedule you for a follow-up appointment to monitor your progress. If the disease has responded to treatment, there will be no need for further treatments. However, you’ll require periodic maintenance to keep the condition under control.
Topical antibiotics and antimicrobial rinses are used when the dentist determines that there’s a need for an additional layer of defense against bacteria after the scaling and root planing procedures. We prefer to use antibiotics and antimicrobials on a short-term basis, as excessive use can wipe out the good bacteria in your mouth.
Don’t allow gum disease to get in the way of a healthy, confident smile. The faster you get treatment, the better your chances of responding well to non-surgical periodontal therapy are.
Contact one of our Wellesley Dental Arts offices today to schedule a session with our dentist.
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