How to Treat Periodontal (Gum) Disease

The first line of defense against periodontal disease is prevention. You can prevent periodontal disease by following a strict oral hygiene routine at home that includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. For the treatment of gingivitis, which is a mild form of periodontal disease, a good oral care routine is all that’s usually needed. Gingivitis can be reversed once the dental plaque that caused the problem is removed completely, but periodontal disease, a more severe form of gum disease, usually requires more involved treatment that can be nonsurgical and/or surgical.
 

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a treatment that is commonly performed in the early stages of gum disease. When bacterial plaque accumulates, it eventually leads to bone loss around the teeth. This bone loss causes pockets to form around teeth that cannot be cleansed with regular toothbrushing and flossing. During the scaling and root planing procedure, a hygienist applies a local anesthetic and goes deep under the gum line to clean the pockets and remove plaque and calculus.

Generally, after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require further treatment, but they do need to undergo maintenance therapy to ensure that the health of their gums is sustained. Some patients, however, are not able to achieve periodontal health after scaling and root planing. If a peridontist determines that the tissue around a patient’s teeth cannot be repaired non-surgically, then the next logical step is surgery.

Osseous Surgery

Osseous surgery is recommended when nonsurgical procedures have already been performed but in the damage to the bone is so severe that the pockets around the teeth still remain. During osseous surgery, a periodontist applies a local anesthetic and pulls back the gums in order to view the roots of teeth and remove any remaining plaque and tartar that couldn’t be removed nonsurgically. During this procedure, infected gum tissue is removed, the roots are cleaned extensively, and the bone around the teeth is reshaped to make daily toothbrushing easier and to further reduce the pockets.
Do You Have to have Gum Disease to See a Periodontist?

Many people are surprised to learn that healthy patients often seek the services of a periodontal office.  If you think about it, who better to know how to prevent periodontal disease than the specialist that treats it.  Periodontal practices are tuned into the earliest signs of disease and can often take early steps to ward off the disease before it ravages the bone creating life long damage.  The hygienists working in periodontal offices are treating the most advanced stages of disease every single day, most of the day.  Their skills are uniquely honed to be able to get the roots of the teeth clean at the base of the pocket where bacteria are difficult to get and to recommend specific home cleaning methods that will be most effective at preventing the bacteria from accumulating again. These early, but effective treatments can often prevent the need for more advanced surgical treatments later.
 

Why Choose Dr. Terry LaBell as Your Periodontal Surgeon?

Dr. Terry LaBell is a periodontal surgeon who serves patients in Woodinville, Bothell, and beyond. Dr. LaBell and his team are committed to providing patients with exceptional customer service while administering cutting-edge periodontal treatments in a caring, patient-friendly environment. Contact Dr. LaBell today if you would like to receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation and determine what type of treatment is appropriate for your condition. For more information about the nonsurgical and surgical periodontal (gum) disease treatments that Dr. LaBell and his team offer, please click here.

Added on 11/17/2010

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