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The emphasis in our practice is conservative periodontal
therapy. Many times, early stages of periodontal disease is best
treated with nonsurgical periodontal therapy. This usually consists
of placing a fine ultrasonic tip in between the tooth and gum
tissue to remove any plaque and calculus below the gum line. This
procedure is called root planing. Four to six weeks later,
periodontal pockets are eliminated due to gum shrinkage. Then the
patient can personally maintain these areas with routine brushing
and flossing.
Even in most severe cases of periodontal disease, nonsurgical
periodontal therapy most often precedes surgical therapy. This is
done so that the overall tissue quality is improved prior to
surgery and also limits the areas of required surgery.
Treatment
Methods
Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the
condition has progressed. The first step is usually a thorough
cleaning that may include scaling to remove plaque and tartar
deposits beneath the gumline. The tooth roots may also be planed to
smooth the root surface allowing the gum tissue to heal and
reattach to the tooth. In some cases, the occlusion (bite) may
require adjustment.
Root
Planing
Antibiotics or irrigation with antimicrobials (chemical
agents or mouthrinses) may be recommended to help control the
growth of bacteria that create toxins and cause periodontitis. In
some cases, Dr. Kleinman may place antibiotic fibers in the
periodontal pockets after scaling and planing. This may be done to
control infection and to encourage normal healing.
Subgingival
Scaling
When deep pockets between teeth and gums are present, it is
difficult for Dr. Kleinman to thoroughly remove plaque and tarter.
Patients can seldom, if ever, keep these pockets clean and free of
plaque. Consequently, surgery may be needed to restore periodontal
health.
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