Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease.  Your dentist and dental hygienist will evaluate for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Periodontal disease progresses as the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, causing irritation to the surrounding tissues.  When these irritants remain in the pocket space, they can cause damage to the gums and eventually, the bone that supports the teeth!

If the disease is caught in the early stages of gingivitis, and no damage has been done, one to two regular cleanings will be recommended.  You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene habits and having regular dental cleanings.

If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended.  It is usually done one quadrant of the mouth at a time while the area is numb.  In this procedure, tartar, plaque, and toxins are removed from above and below the gum line (scaling) and rough spots on root surfaces are made smooth (planing).  This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink.  Medications, special medicated mouth rinses, and an electric tooth brush may be recommended to help control infection and healing.

If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depths, making teeth easier to clean.  Your dentist may also recommend that you see a Periodontist (specialist of the gums and supporting bone).

If periodontal surgery is not an option, due to fear or financial reasons, then there is new and exciting way to treat periodontal disease using the Perio Protect Method (www.perioprotect.com).  Perio Protect Method ia a proven, most effective, non-invasive treatment for periodontal disease.  Under the dentist's direction, the Perio Protect Method allows the patient to use an FDA cleared medical device to deliver antimicrobial agents of the doctor's choosing to the source of the infection.  By following a prescribed protocol, the infection is addressed and healing begins in a matter of days.  The patient is able to sustain these healthy conditions by continuing to use the method as a homecare treatment.