Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, bone and ligaments that support the teeth and anchor them in the jaw. The bacteria are normal inhabitants of the mouth and form a film of dental plaque and calculus (tartar) which stick to the teeth. The bacteria produce poisonous toxins which stimulate the immune response to fight the infection. If the disease process is not stopped, the supporting structures of the teeth will continue to be destroyed. This eventually leads to tooth loss.

Periodontal disease can occur at any age. Over half of all people over the age of 18 have some form of the disease. After age 35, over 75% of all people are affected. Periodontal disease can be easily detected during regular dental examinations. A periodontal charting should be performed for all teeth. A periodontal probe, with ruled millimeter markings, is used to measure the depth of the space between the teeth and gums. Ideally, normal measurements range between 1 and 3 millimeters. Depths greater than this may signify the presence of periodontal pockets and associated gum disease. X-rays should be taken to see if bone damage has occurred as a result of the disease process.

Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Once you start getting gum disease, it may not be possible for a toothbrush to completely clean all the gum pockets. This is why scaling and root planing by your hygienist may be recommended. The main goal of periodontal treatment is eradication of the disease process from the gums, ligaments and bones that surround the teeth, and restoration of health that can be predictably maintained in the future. Scaling and root planing is cleaning the root surfaces of the teeth, which get exposed when a patient has lost bone supporting the teeth. This type of cleaning is typically done by quadrants, so multiple visits may be needed in order to complete treatment. It also often requires anesthesia, since it can be a bit uncomfortable.

We offer a product called Oraqix, which is a local anesthetic that is administered without a needle and is applied only in the areas that need to be anesthetized, is quick acting and not too long lasting (~30 min) for your optimal comfort. Your dentist also may elect to place ANTIBIOTICS in your gum pockets, in order to try and firm up the gums. In our office we offer Arestin, which is a Minocycline product. ARESTIN is placed underneath your gums in the areas of dental bone loss, normally at the same appointment when your deep cleaning is done. They have been shown to be more effective in decreasing the gum disease when done in conjunction with the deep cleaning, than the deep cleaning alone

Peridontal Maintenance Therapy:

After the scaling and root planing is completed, you will likely need regular periodontal maintenance therapy in order to keep your periodontal disease under control. This is a type of cleaning that is a bit more involved than a standard cleaning/prophy and like the scaling and root planing, requires the dental hygienist to clean under the gums. While many people having cleanings every 6 months, those with periodontal disease may need to be cleaned every 3-4 months. We follow up on your gum health at each one of these visits and if periodontal disease is still persisting we may refer you to a periodontist for further treatment.