Periodontal (Gum) Disease Treatment – Herndon, VA
Maintaining Healthy Gums and Healthy Smiles
Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most common oral health concerns affecting more than 50% of US adults over 30. This oral health issue occurs when plaque and tartar buildup at the gum line leads to irritation or infection of the soft tissue.
In the earliest stages, gingivitis, minimal discomfort, and bleeding may be the only symptoms. Typically, more frequent professional cleanings and improved at-home hygiene are adequate to reverse the damage of gingivitis. If left untreated, it develops into more severe periodontitis.
Advanced periodontal disease can lead to a number of detrimental oral health effects including tooth loss. At Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry, we’re happy to help patients restore oral health following gum disease with a variety of periodontal therapies. Contact our team to find out more or schedule an appointment today.
Why Choose Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry for Periodontal (Gum) Disease Treatment?
- Lasers for Pain-Free Periodontal Treatments
- Team That Always Gives Patients Enough One-on-One Time
- Large, Comfortable Office with Free Parking
Scaling & Root Planing
The first step to restoring oral health following gum disease is typically combining scaling and root planing treatments. These deep cleanings that remove infected tissue and prevent future infection are essential to renew oral health. Scaling is the systematic removal of plaque, tartar, and infected gum tissue.
Root planing is the smoothing of tooth roots to prevent the future buildup of plaque and tartar that may lead to the spread of gum disease. This procedure is traditionally completed by cutting away damaged soft tissue with a scalpel and reattaching the healthy portions using stitches.
In most cases, Dr. Nazila Ganji recommends the use of a soft tissue laser to complete this procedure more quickly and effectively. While scaling and root planing is an appropriate first step in restoring oral health following gum disease, patients may also need topical antibiotic therapy and more frequent professional teeth cleanings as part of an ongoing treatment plan.
Antibiotic Therapy
The initial cause of the periodontal disease is bacteria. While bacteria in the mouth is healthy and natural, the sticky, acidic plaque it produced by certain types of bacteria may cause gum disease. In order to prevent reinfection following periodontal therapy, we may recommend the use of topical antibiotics to reduce the number of bacteria present in the mouth. Applied directly to the gums following scaling and root planing, antibiotics continue to work for days or weeks after treatment. This means bacteria and plaque are less prevalent, which gives the gums an opportunity to heal. The goal of antibiotic therapy is to reduce the future risk for reinfection or the spread of periodontal disease. In many cases, patients are able to fully restore their oral health with antibiotic therapy and more frequent professional teeth cleanings at our office.
Laser Periodontal Therapy
A soft tissue laser emits a highly concentrated beam of light that can be used to remove infected or damaged tissue. The energy from the laser can also be used to kill bacteria so that they don’t inflict any further harm to the rest of the mouth. As such, soft tissue lasers are frequently used to treat gum disease while causing little to no discomfort. Very little preparation is required, and you’ll note that there’s not much bleeding afterwards since the blood vessels are cauterized right away.
