Periodontal (Gum) Therapy

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that “unzips” your gums from the roots of your teeth. As the result, food and bacteria collect in the pockets between the teeth, allowing the infection to eat away the supporting bone tissue. Think it’s not your problem? Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for adults over the age of 25.

Characteristics of Gum Disease:

  • Bleeding, sore, or red gums
  • Changes in bite
  • Spaces between teeth
  • Loose teeth
  • Teeth that appear longer due to gum recession
  • Bad breath

The Cause of Gum Disease

Periodontal disease results from poor oral hygiene and can be easily prevented with daily brushing and flossing. Plaque (a sticky, white film of bacteria) that remains on the teeth hardens into tartar and creates a sandpaper-like surface on the roots of teeth. This process leads to periodontal disease, which is very difficult to stop once it begins. In fact, there is no cure for advanced stage gum disease, and we can only treat the symptoms and keep it from spreading.

Symptoms & Screening

Since symptoms of gum disease are mild, many patients don’t notice a problem until it’s too late. Your dentist can screen for periodontal disease using a dental probe and X-rays during your regular checkup. Probing measures pocket depth and X-rays show the condition of the surrounding bone. Make sure you ask your dentist if he or she performs a periodontal analysis, as statistics show that 80% of dentists do not.

At our office, we offer non-surgical treatment for mild cases of gum disease, including:

  • Debridement – The first phase of treatment, debridement uses a combination of water and high-frequency vibrations to dislodge excessive amounts of plaque and tartar from the teeth. This may require local anesthesia if the patient is very sensitive.
     
  • Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) – The most common and conservative type of treatment, SRP involves removing plaque and calculus from below the gum line, as well as smoothing root surfaces so supporting tissues can reattach to the tooth surface. SRP may take 1 to 4 appointments, or more. For your comfort, we typically use general anesthesia.
     
  • Targeted Antibiotic Therapy – This advanced technique involves strategic placement of antibiotics. Unlike traditional oral antibiotics, this therapy will not affect your entire system, which is preferable in most cases. At Fountain View, we use Arestin prescription antibiotic therapy.

Click here to read more about gum disease.

New Patients Always Welcome. To experience distinctly different dental care, call today and reserve your appointment with Dr. Harden and our wonderful staff. Fountain View Dentistry serves the Woodstock, Acworth, Canton, Kennesaw, and Marietta communities with general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry for all ages.

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