At Georgian Shores Dental Centre, we offer a wide range of treatments to help you keep your teeth healthy. We also offer treatments for other oral conditions, including periodontitis, also called gum disease. Some cases of gum disease can be reversed with better brushing habits, but more severe cases usually require periodontal gum therapy.
In this article, we will provide some key information you should know about how periodontal gum therapy works.
- Scaling – One key step in periodontal gum therapy is scaling the teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Dentists use either hand tools or ultrasonic devices to remove these substances from the teeth. In cases of periodontitis, we focus specifically on removing pockets of plaque and tartar that have formed below the gumline.
- Root Planing – Periodontitis causes the gums to recede away from the teeth, which leads to a variety of other problems, including pain and inflammation in the mouth. As part of periodontic gum therapy, our dentists will plane the roots of your teeth, removing any roughened areas. This creates a smooth surface for the gums to reattach to.
- Medication – We may also prescribe medication as part of periodontic gum therapy. For example, we may give you an antibiotic gel to apply to your gums. This helps keep the number of bacteria in your mouth low, which reduces the risk of infection. Medications like this can also reduce swelling in your gums and thus improve your comfort in recovery. If you have questions about periodontal gum therapy, simply give us a call.