Periodontal Maintenance
Teaneck, NJ
 The term "gum disease" can be used to refer to either gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is a stage that occurs before periodontitis, and it is curable. Periodontitis, however, is not. When you have periodontitis, you will need to come to our office once every three or four months for a periodontal checkup and maintenance.
At RJ Dental, we can explain more about gum disease prevention, plaque and tartar control, periodontal care, and the treatment options we have available.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis Overview
Periodontitis forms out of gingivitis, which usually forms due to poor oral hygiene. Of course, there are other risk factors as well, such as smoking, poor nutrition, genetics, dry mouth, and teeth grinding. Some medications can cause dry mouth as well.
Stages of Periodontitis
There are three different types of periodontitis, but they are each treated in roughly the same way. The types of periodontitis include chronic periodontitis, localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP).
Symptoms
Symptoms of periodontitis include inflammation, bleeding, chronic bad breath, loose teeth, and gum recession.
Progression
Periodontal (gum) disease can destroy both the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. This can include the teeth, gums, and even jawbones. While it is incredibly destructive, it is not caused by any outside organism but rather the patient's body.
All of us have bacteria in our oral cavity which helps to break down food debris, aiding indigestion. When those bacteria become toxic, they grow aggressive and begin to break down the tissues of the mouth.
When the soft tissues of the mouth become irritated enough by the bacteria, the first stage of periodontal disease will begin to develop. It is called gingivitis. It is important to realize that gingivitis is the only stage of the disease in which it can be cured. Once it gets to the later stages it cannot be cured and the symptoms will continue to get worse.
At that point, periodontal maintenance is performed to try and slow the disease down.
Assessing Gum Disease
Only through assessment at RJ Dental can our dentists determine if a patient has periodontal disease and in what stage it is in. After determining this, our dentists design a treatment plan to address the patient's needs.
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Part of the evaluation is looking at specific risk factors which have been linked to a higher likelihood of developing the disease.
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We will look at the teeth and gums of the patient examining the pocket depth which develops where the gums meet the teeth. This occurs when gums begin to recede in the earlier stages of gum disease.
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We will also check the health of both the upper and lower jawbones by using x-rays. |
Deep Cleanings
Deep cleanings are a routine procedure provided to patients with periodontitis; we perform these three or four times each year. The main steps include scaling and root planing. We can provide local anesthetic if necessary, for your comfort, and we may also prescribe antibiotics to fight the bacterial infection. Antibiotics can be administered either orally or through a mouthwash.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling is a process of removing built-up tartar and plaque from the teeth, including below the gumline. This is because periodontitis creates pockets of infections underneath the gum that must be cleaned.
Root planing is a process by which we can smooth your tooth's root surfaces. This prevents the build-up of more debris and bacteria. It also helps your teeth reattach to your gums, which also prevents bacteria pockets from forming again.
Surgical Treatment
In more severe forms, periodontitis can cause significant damage to the surrounding tissue, including your bones. Two surgeries that address periodontitis are graft placement and flap surgery.
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Grafts can be provided to replace or regenerate both hard and soft tissues. Gum grafts are necessary for covering the roots of your teeth when you experience gum recession. Bone grafts are necessary for replacing the bone structure that surrounds your tooth's root. Grafts can be either synthetic or artificial tissue, and there are different donor sources available.
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Flap surgery, called pocket reduction surgery, is a procedure intended to clean deep areas of infection underneath the gumline. The dentist or periodontist pulls the gum back and removes plaque and calculus. This also reduces the space between your gum and teeth. |
After Periodontal Maintenance - Home Care
You are likely to receive antibiotics following each deep cleaning to prevent infection. In addition, saltwater rinses and soft food diets are helpful in relieving tooth and gum sensitivity following deep cleanings. We may recommend over-the-counter medications to control pain and swelling associated with periodontitis.
You will need to brush your teeth twice a day using a soft toothbrush so that you do not irritate your gums. We can prescribe specialty toothpaste if needed to help with tooth sensitivity. You will also need to floss your teeth every day.
Learn more about periodontal care.
Why Frequent Maintenance Appointments are Vital
When we first establish that you have periodontal disease, our treatment mostly involves scaling and root planing. With this procedure, our hygienist or dentist removes plaque, bacteria, and tartar from beneath the gumline. The treatment works to disrupt the growth of bacteria responsible for the disease.
However, those bacteria may remain and settle back into the gum pocket thereby reproducing further. In fact, these bacteria double in number every time they reproduce, often reaching destructive levels within a period of 90 days.
Depending on how fast plaque and tartar are accumulating or if bleeding and inflammation are present, or the stability of the condition, you may have periodontal therapy and maintenance performed three or four times a year.
Call to Schedule Periodontal Maintenance Today!
Any patient who is dealing with periodontal disease and who would like to find out more about treatment options, please come to see us at the office. Talk to us if you have had periodontal disease treatment in the past so that we can monitor it and provide follow-up periodontal therapy to ensure it does not come back. Call us in Teaneck, NJ at (551) 369-2001 or Roselle, NJ at (908) 488-5005 today! |
