Protecting Your Smile’s Health and Aesthetics with Gum Disease Treatment
A strong foundation of oral health is essential for the success of your cosmetic dental treatments. If you or a loved one are suffering from gum disease, don’t worry! A stunning smile is still in your reach!
Our Orland Park dentists provide professional care for gum disease with ARESTIN antibiotic treatment and scaling and root planing cleanings. For the early stages, we use the powerful antibiotics with tooth scaling to fight off bacteria while removing plaque and infection from teeth, above and below the gumline. We smooth out the surfaces of tooth roots during root planing to encourage proper gum tissue healing.
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Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist will evaluate for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Periodontal disease progresses as the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, causing irritation to the surrounding tissues. When these irritants remain in the pocket space, they can cause damage to the gums and eventually, the bone that supports the teeth!
If the disease is caught in the early stages of gingivitis, and no damage has been done, one to two regular cleanings will be recommended. You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene habits and having regular dental cleanings.
If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended. It is usually done one quadrant of the mouth at a time while the area is numb. In this procedure, tartar, plaque, and toxins are removed from above and below the gum line (scaling) and rough spots on root surfaces are made smooth (planing). This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink. Medications, special medicated mouth rinses, and an electric tooth brush may be recommended to help control infection and healing.
If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depths, making teeth easier to clean. Your dentist may also recommend that you see a periodontist (specialist of the gums and supporting bone).
For complex cases, our dentists work with trusted periodontists to make sure you receive the specialized treatment you need to help eliminate the infection from your smile.
If you have lost one or multiple teeth due to advanced gum disease, we can restore your smile completely with dental implant placement and restorations. Contact us to find discover which tooth replacement options could work for you!