Our team offers periodontal treatment to manage gum disease and help keep smiles free of complications like tooth loss. But we also want to help you avoid the onset of the disease completely if possible. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about preventing periodontal disease.
The Signs of Worsening Gum Health
When should you contact a periodontist for treatment? Be aware of any changes to your gums, as this could indicate gingivitis and even periodontal disease. For example, sore and red gums, bleeding when you brush and floss, and recession that makes your teeth appear longer than usual. These all indicate poor periodontal health, and care is needed to manage the issue and protect you from worsening symptoms, such as increased discomfort and even tooth loss. But our team can also offer care in the early stages to help manage the issue and prevent the onset of the disease.
Supportive Periodontal Maintenance
In place of a traditional dental cleaning, people with periodontal disease may benefit from Supportive Periodontal Maintenance every three to four months. The process involves our team removing harmful plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of the teeth, which helps prevent worsening inflammation in the gums. The process only takes a short time, and helps safeguard your smile against periodontitis, the stage linked to tooth loss. This procedure is often recommended following our laser treatment or gum grafting procedures.
Scaling and Root Planing
If you see us and we find you have gingivitis or the early stages of gum disease, then we may recommend a deep cleaning known as a scaling and root planing. The procedure is more involved than a traditional cleaning. The procedure involves the use of an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently and thoroughly remove buildup from the surfaces of the teeth and from beneath the gums too. We also remove the buildup from the roots as well. For some, this could take one visit or as many as four, depending on the severity of your buildup. Following this, we polish the smile and we may recommend regular maintenance.
Ozone Therapy
We also offer Ozone Therapy, a holistic treatment that involves exposing the gums to oxygen to destroy harmful oral bacteria and leave healthy bacteria intact, managing the disease and keeping your smile strong. If you have any questions about how our team will prevent the advanced stage of the disease and keep your smile whole, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Dr. Kania About Preventing Poor Oral Health
We want to help you avoid issues that could threaten smile stability. To learn more about preventing gum disease or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.