Gum Disease | Periodontal Therapy

Periodontal Care

Periodontal Therapy. A general cleaning is a procedure that is recommended every six months. Even though visiting the dentist twice a year may seem like a lot, two short visits a year will potentially prevent a life time of dental problems and worry.

Periodontal Disease. Also known as advanced gum disease, periodontal disease is an ongoing infection in the pockets around the teeth. The deeper the pockets, the more infection you have and the more serious the risk. Advanced gum disease sometimes requires the dentist to clean below the gum line.

Periodontal Gum Disease

Scaling and root planing is done to remove the tartar and hard calculus that is loaded with bacteria, around and below the gum line. It is the first step for any periodontal therapy. This is done to prevent further damage and restore and stabilize the teeth and supporting structures.

Common signs of periodontal disease are bleeding and swollen gums, persistent bad breath and gum recession.

In most cases, periodontal disease does not hurt. Current research also links periodontal conditions to body and systemic health: bacteria that cause periodontal disease have been shown to be a risk factor for patients suffering from heart disease and diabetes.

Our office provides progressive treatment including non-surgical hand and ultrasonic instrumentation, antiseptic and antibiotic therapy, oral hygiene instruction and specially selected home-care products. For many patients, this will be all that is needed to control their condition. Others will require referral to a Periodontist for follow-up treatment.

If you believe you or a loved one may have periodontal disease, early diagnosis is the key to treatment - Contact Sprayberry Dental Associates to schedule a complete dental assessment and periodontal screening at our convenient Marietta location.