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, "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.
Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing Scaling: Removal of superficial bacterial deposits, plaque (biofilm) and calculus (tartar). Root Planing: Removal of bacterial deposits beneath the gumline and smoothing of the root surface. 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.
Adjunctive 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.
Periodontal Maintenance
When treatment of active periodontal disease is complete and the periodontal Infection is under control, more frequent specialized cleanings called Periodontal Maintenancence Visits are used to prevent its reoccurence. Patients usually alternate these visits between the periodontist and the general dentist's office.
