Periodontal Disease treatment begins with a comprehensive examination of the dental and periodontal structures. This typically includes evaluation of the degree of gingival inflammation, measurement of pocket depth around all of the teeth, and x ray examination of all of the teeth.
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that gets under the gums and into the bone around your teeth, causing inflammation. Periodontal inflammation leads to tooth loss and may contribute to other medical conditions.
The periodontal infection must be removed and the area given a chance to heal. There are generally two accepted treatments for this condition depending upon the severity of your infection.
Non-surgical periodontal treatment
The upper level of infection in the pockets around your teeth can be treated using specialized hand and ultrasonic instruments. This procedure is called, "Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing", "Phase One Treatment" or "Initial Therapy". It may done under local anesthesia and is quite different from the routine dental cleaning that is traditionally done in the general dentist's office. Scaling and root planing may be difficult to perform effectively when deeper pockets are present as in more advanced periodontal disease.
Periodontal Surgery
If your infection has spread into the bone that supports your teeth, and is deeper than the level that can be reached by scaling and root planing, then a surgical procedure must be performed to gain access to the infection and repair the damage to the bone. The goal of this treatment is to eliminate the disease and provide access for future maintenance and disease prevention. This is accomplished by remodeling and/or regenerating the bone and soft tissues surrounding the tooth roots. For more information click Periodontal Pocket ProceduresAdjunctive procedures
Other treatment sometimes be required to help control periodontal disease might include antibiotic treatment, removal of hopeless teeth, bite adjustment, bite appliance and replacement of missing teeth. For more information click here Adjunctive Periodontal Procedures
Periodontal Maintenance
When treatment of active periodontal disease is complete and the periodontal Infection is under control, more frequent specialized cleanings called Periodontal Maintenance Visits are used to prevent its reoccurrence. These visits include pocket depth measurement, localized root planing in recalcitrant areas, polishing, and evaluation by the Periodontist. Patients usually alternate these visits between the periodontist and the general dentist's office.