Periodontics
PERIODONTAL THERAPY BY AZURE DENTAL
You may look in the mirror and see a beautiful smile, but your dentist may see the same smile and notice that your gums are in trouble.
The trouble starts simply enough as bacteria build up in your mouth, mixing with food debris and mucus to form plaque, a sticky substance that adheres to your teeth. When this hardens, it becomes tartar.
Under the best circumstances, good oral hygiene keeps the bacteria in check, and regular general dental care by hygienists will keep plaque and tartar build-up from becoming a problem.
When allowed to accumulate, tartar build-up affects the gums, causing redness and swelling. Often, the gums may bleed as a result. These symptoms are indications that gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease, is developing.
When treated by a professional, it is reversible as long as good oral hygiene is maintained. When it is not treated, however, it gets progressively worse and becomes periodontitis.
In this situation, the gums pull away from the teeth as pockets form due to tartar and plaque build-up. These pockets trap more food debris, making a bad problem worse.
The body’s immune system tries to fight the disease and bacteria, and toxins form as a result. The toxins cause a breakdown of the bone and connective tissue around the teeth. Loosening of the teeth is the result of this breakdown.
TREATMENT FOR PERIODONTITIS
Treatment includes cleaning all the tartar and plaque from your teeth. The hygienists at Azure Dental will remove all the debris and measure the pockets formed by the tartar. This will indicate the extent and type of treatment required to bring your gums back to optimal health.
If you are experiencing discomfort with the disease, Dr. Shah will speak with your regarding your options. Sometimes infections, as well as pain, need to be treated with medication. Special mouthwashes or rinses are used on occasion. If necessary, pockets can be filled with antibiotic medication after cleaning.
DEEP CLEANING – SCALING AND ROOT PLANING
Hardened tartar and plaque need to be removed from the teeth with dental instruments designed for this use. After removal, the roots of the teeth are smoothed – this is called scaling and planing.
This procedure allows the gums to reattach to the tooth during the healing process. The high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment we use makes this process as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Follow-up appointments determine how well healing is progressing. It is also during these visits that the dentist will decide if further treatments will be needed. Be sure to keep your follow-up appointments.
A healthy body begins with a healthy mouth; this is especially true when it comes to periodontitis!
