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First, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during your treatment. Deep cleanings may cause more sensitivity for patients than regular dental cleanings, but you’ll be comfortable throughout the procedure with local anesthetic.
In the next step of the process, your hygienist will use special dental tools to “scale” tartar and plaque from between your teeth and below your gum line. The goal is to remove the harmful bacteria that causes gum disease.
Once your teeth and gums have been cleaned, your hygienist will “plane” and smooth the roots of your teeth. This process eliminates the pockets and pits that form below the roots of your teeth which harbor bad bacteria.
The final step of your appointment is antibiotic treatment. Depending on your case, you may receive topical antibiotics that are applied to gums during treatment, an antibiotic rinse that you can use at home, or a prescription antibiotic taken orally.
The first step in treating gum disease is a deep cleaning, also known as “scaling and root planing.” This treatment is used to remove the bacteria, plaque, and tartar that cause gum disease.
Your dentist in Upper Arlington will clean deeply between your teeth and gums, and will also smooth out the roots of your teeth to remove “pockets” that harbor the bacteria that cause gum disease. The process is minimally-invasive, and is usually conducted under local anesthesia (a numbing agent).
Typically, half of your mouth will be cleaned during each appointment. Combined with antibiotic treatment, deep cleanings are usually enough to maintain most minor-to-moderate cases of gum disease.
Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection hidden below your gums. Dental cleanings can effectively remove the bacteria, but the bacteria re-populate almost immediately, and the infectious cycle continues. It’s important to keep brushing and flossing, but toothbrush, rinse and floss just can’t reach deep enough to address infections below your gums.
Perio Tray™ therapy by Perio Protect gently applies medication deep under the gums to fight the infections and prevent their recurrence. You use it at home for just minutes each day. The special tray delivery is comfortable, flexible, and custom-fit precisely for your mouth.
It is important to treat active infections. Almost half of American adults have chronic periodontitis, an advanced form of gum disease that taxes the immune system and may make it harder for your body to fight off other infectious challenges. Infections in your gums may also contribute to other chronic health problems like arterial inflammation.
Not only does Perio Tray™ therapy help improve your health, it can also help you smile with more confidence. Patients using Perio Tray™ delivery report whiter teeth and fresher breath. Chronic bad breath often signals chronic gum disease. Address the disease and freshen your breath.
If you’ve been told that you have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), ask our team if Perio Tray™ therapy from Perio Protect is right for you.
Bone grafting may be required if advanced periodontal disease has damaged your underlying jaw tissue. In this procedure, bone is taken from elsewhere in your body or from a donor, usually in the form of powder or small granules. Then, this bone matter is packed into the damaged bone area, and your natural bone heals around it, restoring your jaw.
Gum disease is commonly split into three different “stages.” The first stage is called “gingivitis.” In this stage of the disease, there is no permanent damage to your teeth or gums, and you can completely reverse and eliminate gum disease with proper care. Common symptoms of this include bleeding when brushing, inflamed and discolored gums, and halitosis (bad breath).
If left untreated, however, gingivitis will advance to the second stage of gum disease, known as “periodontitis.” This stage of gum disease is not reversible, but can be halted and controlled to keep your teeth and gums healthy with proper intervention. Symptoms usually include lengthening of the teeth (gum recession), sensitive or sore teeth and gums, excessive gum bleeding, and very swollen or puffy gums.
The final stage is “advanced periodontitis,” which causes permanent damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw bone. Common symptoms include pus forming between the teeth and gums, shifting of the teeth, changes in your bite, or the loosening of one or more teeth. Surgical intervention is usually necessary to treat this issue. In the most severe cases, your teeth may need to be extracted and replaced with false teeth like dentures or dental implants.
Perio Protect uses custom-fitted trays to deliver powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medication to your gums. These trays completely surround your teeth and gums and are custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly.
The trays are worn for 15 minutes after placing a small amount of gel. They are worn daily or twice daily depending on your diagnosis and what works best for you. The trays push the gel below the gum tissue to attack the source of periodontal disease. Once your 15 minutes are up, you remove the trays, rinse them off, and go about your day.
Perio Protect reduces the build-up of harmful bacteria and inflammatory mediators that cause gum disease. When used in conjunction with regular dental visits and care, Perio Protect goes a long way to keeping your gums and mouth healthy. If you are interested in Perio Protect, contact Arlington Dental Group for your consultation with Dr. Fair or Dr. Vaidya today!
Gum disease is caused by bad bacteria flourishing in the mouth. This can happen because of poor oral hygiene. For instance, failing to brush and floss properly means that the bacteria that are present in your mouth will begin to reproduce and form plaque and tartar between your teeth and your gums. Over time, these bacteria begin to attack and infect your gum tissue. Eventually, this infection will cause permanent, irreversible damage to your oral health unless you maintain proper care.
It’s also possible that your genetics will influence the likelihood of gum disease. If you have gum disease, your doctor will be able to determine the cause and the best methods to protect against it.
Gum Disease, called Periodontitis, is an out-of-control inflammatory response focused in the gums and bone surrounding your teeth. There are many factors that contribute to and exacerbate Gum Disease/Periodontitis. It can be caused by bacteria and hardened plaque deposited on the teeth called calculus. It can also be driven by systemic issues such as autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, and thyroid problems. While treatments for gum disease/periodontitis are well documented and understood, all causes of Gum Disease are not.
One of the most important tools you can use to control the inflammation that causes Gum Disease in your mouth is daily, effective oral hygiene practices. Traditionally, dentists have encouraged patients to brush and floss regularly; and while effective, it’s not for everyone. There are many tools you can use to clean and maintain your teeth and gums. Finding what works best for you is one of our most important tasks.
Gum Disease begins as Gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible and doesn’t cause permanent damage to the teeth and bone in your mouth. Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to Periodontitis and require special treatment to control. Periodontitis can destroy the bone and gums that hold your teeth in place; while it can be controlled, it often comes back later in life.
This is why proper periodontal care is so important. If you have gingivitis or periodontitis, treatments like Perio Protect and deep cleanings can eliminate the infection and inflammation and stop the progression of the disease.
Gum disease affects more than just your oral health. It can also contribute to inflammation in other parts of your body, and raise the risk of health problems like heart disease, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), and even stroke. For these reasons, it’s very important to get help for gum disease right away.
No. Gum disease is not contagious. It’s caused by bacteria that are present in all of our mouths. However, in a healthy mouth, these bacteria do not reproduce uncontrollably in a way that causes gum disease. Gum disease occurs when poor oral hygiene allows bacteria to reproduce, or if a patient is genetically predisposed to gum disease.
Yes! It’s estimated that around 50% of Americans have some kind of gum disease. In adults over the age of 65, this rate jumps to 75%.
Gum Disease is common and the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. 26% of adults over the age of 65 have 8 or fewer teeth and 17% have lost all their natural teeth.
If you suspect you have gum disease: get help. Early intervention is the best way to protect your Complete Health. Contact Arlington Dental Group today for a consultation to learn how to prevent and manage gum disease.
