Dental Hygiene & Periodontal Health
We want our patients to live long, healthy lives, which is why we’re determined to keep your oral health in peak condition. Besides coming in for regular cleanings and checkups, your personal hygiene routine is essential for long-term dental health. Our friendly staff is on hand to help you establish a dental hygiene routine to keep your teeth in top shape.
You may think dental visits are all about checking for cavities, but the truth is that your gums provide a lot of information about your overall well-being. We’re proactive about looking for signs of gum disease (also called periodontal disease) and treating it in the most effective manner when it’s detected.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease is a common affliction in both men and women of all ethnicities, from teenagers to adults. Over 75% of the population has some form of gum disease. Bleeding when brushing or flossing? This is the first indication of an issue. Also called periodontal disease, it’s a slow but progressive swelling of the gingiva, which destroys the bone that supports your teeth. This bone can’t be regenerated once it’s lost. Occasionally, gum disease is concentrated on one tooth or localized in a single area of the mouth, but it can also affect all teeth.
What are the symptoms?
Gum disease is often painless until advanced stages, making regular checkups increasingly important for prevention. Initial symptoms may include swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth or odorous breath. As symptoms progress, teeth may begin to loosen, shift and eventually fall out. Your body has to constantly fight the infection, which wears down your immune system. Periodontal disease can cause heart disease and vice versa. Diabetes, kidney, and liver issues as well as activities such as smoking, vaping and tobacco use can increase the risk of periodontal disease.
Give us a call and we’ll set up an appointment at your convenience. We’re here to protect your wellbeing and give you more reasons to smile.
Scaling and root planning
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning used to treat gum disease. Gum disease is caused by a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque is always forming on your teeth, but if they aren’t cleaned well, the bacteria in plaque can cause your gums to become inflamed. When this happens, your gums will pull away from your teeth and form spaces called pockets. Plaque then gets trapped in these pockets and cannot be removed with regular brushing. If untreated, gum disease could lead to bone and tooth loss.
What is scaling and root planning?
This deep cleaning has two parts. Scaling is when your provider removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gumline, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Root planing is the smoothing out of your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. Scaling and root planing may take more than one visit to complete and may require a local anesthetic.
After a deep cleaning, your teeth may be sensitive for up to a week and your gums also may be swollen, feel tender and bleed. To prevent infection, control pain or help you heal, your dentist may prescribe a pill or mouth rinse. Your dentist may also insert medication directly into the pocket that was cleaned.
You may be scheduled for another visit to see how your gums have healed and measure the depth of your pockets. If they have gotten deeper, more treatment may be needed.
Why is scaling and root planing important?
When the bacteria travel deep under the tissue, it is impossible for a patient to remove it themself. The deposits are cemented to the tooth and without the use of proper instruments by a dental professional, a patient’s risk of tooth loss is very high. Additionally, the strain of bacteria present in the mouth is the same that causes plaque around arteries in the heart which can lead to heart disease as well as other health conditions.