Periodontal Therapy

Dentist in Aberdeen MD

Periodontal (gum) disease is the result of too much bacteria building up onto your teeth and gums.

When the bacteria start to collect in your mouth, they can create a sticky, colorless substance known as “plaque.” Plaque builds up and sticks to your teeth. If it is not removed during brushing or flossing, the particle can harden and turn into calculus. Over time, plaque and calculus become more difficult to remove at home so a professional hygiene visit with our dentist is important for maintaining your oral health and preventing decay and periodontal disease.

The longer the plaque and calculus remain on the teeth, the more harm they can cause to your oral health. Eventually they will create a mild form of gum disease called gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gum tissue. Ideally, routine hygiene visits and proper oral care can prevent gingivitis from developing. Once gum disease is prevalent, Dr. Theresa Kujala can help maintain the disease and prevent it from progressing.

In cases where gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontal disease. Inflammation affects the soft tissue (gums) and teeth, creating pockets between them. If left untreated, the pockets become deep and can cause teeth to become loose or even fall out.

Treatment

A common solution for controlling periodontal disease is scaling and root planning. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of the disease may make it necessary to numb the area for comfort. Scaling is the removal of the dental calculus from the tooth surfaces, and root planing is smoothing the root surfaces.

We also offer Arestin as an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form, which is placed inside the infected periodontal pockets to eliminate infection of the gums.

Periodontitis can often not be completely reversed, but with proper at-home care combined with in-office maintenance, we can help prevent the disease from progressing. It is important to regularly see us for a routine, professional hygiene visits and examination. Also, it is essential to keep up with your daily oral routine at home. Flossing is crucial to preventing periodontal disease.

For more information on periodontal disease, contact our dental office in Aberdeen.