Periodontal Treatments. Periodontal Disease

Untreated periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, may cause irreversible damage such as tooth loss. One of the key factors in its development is bad oral hygiene. Brushing teeth on a regular basis removes bacteria that normally “inhabit” the mouth of a healthy person. But when left to accumulate, they provoke plaque and tartar buildups around teeth, which eventually lead to an early stage of periodontal disease (gingivitis).

Gum disease is almost unnoticeable at early and moderate stage, while advanced periodontitis is easily identified by:

• bleeding at the time of brushing
• bad breath
• foul taste in the mouth
• bright red, swollen, receding gums
• loose teeth
• large gaps between teeth

Gingivitis occurs as mild gum inflammation, which is triggered by plaque “attacking” the teeth. You may notice tooth discoloration and experience bleeding in gums as you brush or touch them.

Without timely therapy, inflammation tends to progress to periodontitis: gums pull away, creating small pockets between them and the teeth. Debris and bacteria continue to accumulate inside these areas forcing your immune system to respond. The advanced stage of periodontitis is diagnosed when the connective tissue, which holds teeth, begins to break down because of toxins. Bone and gums destruction occurs resulting in loose teeth. There’s a high risk of losing teeth.

Periodontal Care

Our dentists at Dental World Marietta can diagnose gum infection and/or disease far ahead of the alarming symptoms. During an examination, they will check gum tissue using a periodontal probe and may take dental X-rays to evaluate the jaw bone condition. Based on the disease progress, our specialist will come up with the best treatment.

The options are:

• Scaling and Polish. Healthcare professional removes plaque and tartar buildups from teeth and polishes them. This is usually enough for patients who don’t have pockets and practice dental hygiene at home. 
• Deep Cleaning/Root Planing. Professional deep-cleaning is debridement and cleaning of areas below the gum as well as in periodontal pockets if any. It’s done under local anesthesia. Root planing is meant to smooth rough areas on the tooth’s roots.
• Oral Irrigation. The anti-microbial liquid is directed below the gum line to kill bacteria and speed up healing.

Prevention is the best therapy so it’s highly advised to brush teeth 2 times a day, floss out the hard-to-reach spots, and meet with the dentist for a professional cleaning every 6 months. Our clinic provides the most recent oral rinses (Periomed, Peridex, Listerine) and showcases to our patients some of the latest electrical toothbrushes (OralB, Sonicare). After each cleaning, they receive a sample of dental care products and detailed oral hygiene instructions for helping your teeth last a lifetime.