TMJ Treatments
What is Gum/Periodontal Maintenance?
Gum disease is incredibly common, affecting almost half of all people over the age of 30. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to significant tooth and bone loss, which can affect your smile, confidence and your ability to eat, talk and chew. Fortunately, gum disease can be maintained with the help of deep cleanings known as scaling and root planings. These cleanings help to clear debris from around the teeth, preventing the disease from progressing.
Why would Gum/Periodontal Maintenance be needed?
If you leave gum disease untreated, it will get worse. Over time, the disease can cause the gums to separate from the teeth, which leads to deep pocketing around the teeth themselves. The best way to clean out these pockets is with a scaling and root planing cleaning. The cleaning is often done in two parts to ensure that the gums have been cleared of debris properly.
Who is a candidate for Gum/Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance is ideal for anyone who has gum disease. Gum disease often causes your gums to bleed when brushing and flossing, but we can check in the office to see if there is deep pocketing around the teeth to determine if you have the condition. If it’s found that you have gum disease, it is important that maintenance get started. This will prevent the disease from getting worse and causing tooth loss.
What happens during the Gum/Periodontal Maintenance process?
The first step is to administer a local anesthetic to numb one whole side of the mouth. We then use special instruments to clear away debris from above and below the gum line. The teeth are then carefully planed and smoothed to help the gums heal more closely to them. You will then be scheduled to come back to have the other side of your mouth treated in the same manner. Periodontal maintenance should be done regularly to help prevent the condition from getting worse over time.
If you think you might benefit from periodontal maintenance, call our office today and we will work to get you in for a convenient, quick appointment.