Non-Surgical
Treatment of Gum Disease
Non-surgical therapy removes
plaque and calculus by controlling the growth of harmful
bacteria and by treating conditions that encourage gum disease.
This type of treatment may be all that's needed, especially when
periodontal disease is caught early. You may also need to have
certain procedures, such as replacing worn fillings or crowns
with overhanging margins that can accumulate plaque, taken care
of before periodontal therapy can begin.
Scaling and Root
Planing
Scaling is a type of cleaning
that removes plaque and calculus from the teeth at and slightly
below the gumline. Root planing smoothes root surfaces, so the
supportive tissues can better reattach to the tooth surface.
Often, this will be done with local anesthesia so you can relax
and feel nothing as we rehabilitate your gums.
Antibiotics
Periodontal disease is a
bacterial disease and the key to controlling or eliminating it
is the effective reduction or elimination of the harmful
bacteria. An adjunctive option to scaling and root planing may
be provided in either pill form or applied directly to the
infected area (gum pocket) in the form of antibiotic powder. An
antibacterial mouth rinse also may be prescribed to help control
the harmful effects of and reduce bacterial plaque.
Occlusal Adjustment
An improper bite or a
traumatic occlusion may increase bone destruction attached to
such offending teeth. We may either choose to adjust your bite
so that your teeth meet properly and function better or
construct a custom bite guard or splint- a removable device that
fits over upper or lower teeth - to protect teeth surfaces and
relax tense jaw muscles.
return to patient
service
