Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that penetrates into the gums and into the bone around your teeth, causing inflammation. Periodontal inflammation leads to bone loss and possibly tooth loss and may contribute to other medical conditions.

The periodontal infection must be removed and the area given a chance to heal. There are generally two levels of gum disease treatment for this condition depending upon the severity of your infection.

Upper Level Infection Removal

The upper level of infection in the pockets around your teeth can be removed using specialized instruments. This procedure is called, “Scaling and Root Planing”. It is done under local anesthesia and is quite different from a routine dental cleaning. This is followed by a localized treatment of antibiotics “Arestin” to the infected areas.

Symptoms of Periodontal Infection

Periodontal infection is usually painless until it reaches an advanced stage. However, there are some symptoms that can indicate the presence of periodontal infection.

These may include:

• Red or swollen gums
• Bleeding when brushing (pink toothbrush), or at other times
• Aching, itchy, sore or tender gums
• Receding gums (teeth beginning to look longer)
• Pus between your teeth and gums when you press down on the gums
• Bad breath
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures
• Loose, separating or protruding teeth
• Spaces between teeth

If you notice any of the above warning signs of periodontal infection, please contact our office at 615-776-1050 and ask for a periodontal evaluation.

Learn more about our root canal treatments