What is Periodontal Therapy? And Do I Need It?

Periodontal Therapy is the treatment of gums, bone, and tissue that surround your teeth for the purpose of preventing or reversing the effects of periodontal disease. No matter how well your teeth are brushed and flossed, gum tissue can be affected by bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Left untreated these can lead to serious periodontal disease which can cause loss of bone and deterioration of the tissues that support your teeth, maintain smile and help chew and digest our food.

To ensure good periodontal health, we recommend regular periodontal therapy. Recommended frequency varies by individual patient. Treatment options include:

• Deep cleaning of the teeth and gums. This is a more thorough procedure than you would get at your normal dentist.
• Scaling and root planning. This procedure performed by the Periodontist is a deep cleaning of the tooth and root surfaces. Scaling removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surface and deep periodontal pockets while planning smooths the root surface to remove any harmful bacterial toxins.
• Periodontal Pocket Reduction. Oral surgery may be indicated to reduce periodontal “pockets” which harbor damaging bacteria and allow gum tissue to regenerate and reattach to the surface of the tooth.
• Gum Grafting. If the gums have retracted away from the tooth some of the root and possible even bone can be exposed. Oral surgery gum grafting will allow gum tissue to regenerate and cover the exposed area. Teeth and gums look more pleasing and sensitivity is reduced.
• Follow up treatment. Depending on the individual patient, some follow up treatment with antibiotics or antimicrobials may be recommended.

As the name infers, periodontal therapy may require more than one appointment to accomplish the treatment but for many patients, non-surgical therapy will ensure periodontal health for a long time. When surgery is required, we provide IV Sedation for our patients comfort and we keep careful watch to help ensure a successful healing process.
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To answer the question of whether you need periodontal therapy, the answer is generally yes, but to be sure you can schedule an appointment for a consultation and evaluation in our office at your earliest convenience.

Call Us to Schedule a Consultation