Periodontal Services
Stages of Periodontitis
Periodontal Treatment:
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages gums and can destroy the jawbone. The cause is usually poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. It’s a risk factor for heart and lung diseases, along with Alzheimer’s. Symptoms include swollen, red, tender and bleeding gums. Periodontal disease is something you will deal with for the rest of your life. It is maintainable with regular cleanings and proper home care.
How do we treat Periodontal Disease?
Treatment includes professionally cleaning the pockets around teeth to prevent damage to surrounding bone. This includes us numbing the tissues and teeth so that you are comfortable while we remove all the debris and bacteria from below the tissue. Advanced cases may require surgery or treatment by a specialist called a Periodontist. Here at 417 Smiles we will work closely with local Periodontal specialists here in Springfield. Your treatment will be broken into 3 different appointments. The first appointment consists of numbing the right or left side of your mouth top and bottom and cleaning that side. Then a couple weeks later, the same treatment will be performed on the opposite side of your mouth. Approximately 6 weeks later, once both sides are clean, we will see you again to make sure your home care is good and that you are healing properly. At this appointment, we will decide what frequency of cleanings or periodontal maintenance will be best to maintain a healthy mouth, whether it be every 3 months or every 4 months. The goal is to eventually have you come every 6 months for cleanings.