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Treatment
Methods to treat periodontal disease change depending on the current stage of its development. An evaluation by your hygienist will determine whether you have the disease, and make recommendations based on its symptoms and signs.
The main indication of advancing periodontal disease is a deepening of the pockets between the teeth and gums, which then become filled with plaque and tartar, irritating the gums. If tartar and plaque are left untouched for a long period of time, it will start to destroy the bone under the tooth and inflame the gums.
If diagnosed while still in its early stage called gingivitis, periodontal disease can be corrected with a couple of dental cleanings. The dentist will also provide instruction on how to do a better job of cleaning and maintaining your teeth and gums, as well as recommending regular cleanings.
When periodontal disease has advance beyond gingivitis, special deep cleanings, known as root planing and scaling, will be needed.
These cleanings are usually done under local anesthetic, cleaning 25% of the mouth per visit. In this process, the tartar and plaque causing the irritation are removed from the gum line, and the roots of each tooth are smoothed out. Doing this removes the irritation and allows the gums to start healing. The dentist may prescribe medication or medicated mouthwashes at this stage to promote healing and prevent reinfection.
If scaling and root planing do not work to heal the gums, surgery could be necessary to minimize pocket depths and make teeth cleaning easier. You may also be referred to a Periodontist for this surgery, a dentist that specializes in gum and bone issues.
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