Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how thorough you are, there will be parts of your teeth that appear to have been left  un-brushed. This happens when plaque and tartar will start to build up on your teeth. There can be pockets in the teeth with these conditions, and when this happens bacteria can climb in and lead to infections. As you can imagine, this can prove to be very painful and that’s before you even think about the long-term damage that this can have on your teeth.

Periodontal Therapy (Scaling and Root Planing) is recommended when periodontal disease is discovered. This goes far beyond just aprofessional teeth cleaning which is limited to the area above the gumline, and instead cleans below the gumline to remove the plaque and tartar buildup that is responsible for the deterioration of your gums and its inability to grow as it should. Often times, a local anesthetic is used to help keep the patient comfortable during scaling and root planing.

With root planing, the root surfaces that are actually on your teeth are smoothed over with very thin curettes which enable a turn of events. Firstly, the tissue of the gum has a better attachment to the clean and smooth roots, which in turn again helps to prevent sensitivity of the tooth and also any loss of your teeth for rotting, decaying, infection, etc.

Although there are teeth cleaning kits and treatments available from dentists, none of them have the strength or the maneuverability to be quite as thorough or quite on tough as tartar and plaque as periodontal therapy. Even though more than one appointment may be necessary for slightly more severe cases, it is often the best way to ensure that your oral hygiene is up to scratch, especially if your personal oral care isn’t what it should be.

Following periodontal therapy and depending on the extent of your disease, you may experience some discomfort. There is likely to be a spot of tenderness and sensitivity for a little while after the procedure has taken place, but most of the time over-the-counter pain medications and anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen are enough to relieve any discomfort. The end-result is healthier and stronger teeth along with the prevention of much more serious pain and dental health issues down the road.