The goal of holistic periodontal treatment isn’t just to fight periodontal (gum) disease, but to do so in a way that optimizes your oral and periodontal health. For example, in addition to scaling and root planing to remove harmful bacteria from underneath your gums, you may also benefit from one or more minimally invasive treatments to help ensure that your gums heal and recover properly. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, one of the more holistic treatments we offer is platelet-rich therapy (plasma and fibrin), which utilizes your body’s natural healing factor to promote healthier and more secure gum tissues.
The fight against periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is the product of harmful oral bacteria, particularly the ones that accumulate on your gums and maneuver their way underneath them. This overwhelming presence of oral bacteria causes an infection in your gums known as gingivitis, which leads to rampant inflammation and the progressive erosion of your gums. Fighting periodontal disease once it develops is often a multi-phase process that involves first removing the harmful oral bacteria causing it. Then, we can address any damage that your gum tissues may have experienced as a result of the disease’s progression.
What platelet-rich therapy means
The tiny cells in your blood that initiate the healing process are known as platelets, and the stronger they are, the more effectively your gums will heal. Platelet-rich therapy involves utilizing these tiny cells in high concentrations to promote faster healing of your gums after they’ve been compromised by gum disease. The application of platelet-rich plasma helps spark and maintain the healing process, while platelet-rich fibrin creates the matrix that collects and focuses the plasma’s growth and healing factors. If you’ve lost one or more teeth due to severe gum disease, the platelet-rich therapy can also provide a significant advantage in dental implant placement.
Other ways to fight periodontal disease
If the extent and damage of your gum disease is minor, then preventive measures and platelet-rich treatment may help them recover fully. However, more advanced stages of gum disease often require one or other treatments to remove extensively diseased gum tissues, graft healthy tissue to your gums where necessary, keep gum disease under control, and replace one or more lost teeth. After a comprehensive examination and diagnosis of your gum disease, we can help you determine if platelet-rich therapy and one or more other holistic periodontal treatments is appropriate.
Learn more about platelet-rich therapy
When periodontal disease compromises your gums, platelet-rich therapy may be able to boost your gums’ ability to heal themselves. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.