Treatment and Maintenance of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Treatment

TREATMENT PROCEDURES AND APPOINTMENTS

Our therapy is separated into three phases of treatment: INITIAL THERAPY (PHASE I) is non-surgical and is designed to remove the plaque, tarter and toxins from the root surfaces. During this phase of treatment, your oral hygiene techniques (brushing and flossing) are evaluated. This phase of treatment improves the health of the gum tissue and often the pockets may decrease in depth. After a healing period of about 4 weeks, a reevaluation is performed. At this appointment, your home care is assessed and the depth of the pockets are measured. Scaling and root planing may be all the treatment you require; however, if areas that need additional treatment are identified, you will enter CORRECTIVE THERAPY (PHASE II) which is surgical in nature and is required to correct defects that the disease has caused within the bone and/or soft tissues. MAINTENANCE THERAPY (PHASE III) involves the removal of bacteria below the gum line every three months. This keeps the bacteria at low levels and helps prevent reoccurrence of disease. We are also able to identify new areas of disease and initiate early therapy if necessary.

INITIAL THERAPY or PHASE I

Appointments:

• 1 - 11/2 Hours Scaling and Root Planing, Oral Hygiene Evaluation
• 1 - 11/2 Hours Scaling and Root Planing, Oral Hygiene Evaluation
• 1 Hour Reevaluation of Initial Therapy

Scaling and Root Planing is the removal of bacterial plaque, tarter and toxins from the root surface and within the pocket. This improves the health of the gum tissue and the pockets may decrease in depth; this may be all the therapy required. Usually, half the teeth are treated per appointment and this procedure usually requires a local anesthetic; appointments are scheduled a week apart.

Oral Hygiene Evaluation consists of examining your techniques for daily plaque removal and suggestions are made to improve your effectiveness. A disclosing solution is placed on your teeth which stains the plaque so it can be measured. With adequate oral hygiene you should have a 10% or less plaque score (very few areas that have plaque at the gum line).

Reevaluation of Initial Therapy consists of re-measuring the pocket depths around all of the teeth. This is performed after a healing period of about 4 weeks. Often the pocketing may become less due to the root planing and no additional therapy is required. If there are still areas with deep pockets (5 mm or deeper) or persistent infection or inflammation, surgery will be required.

CORRECTIVE THERAPY or PHASE II

Periodontal Surgery is required to eliminate deep infections from the pockets and/or bone. We also correct defects that the disease has caused within the bone and/or soft tissues. These procedures are done under local anesthetic and are usually no more uncomfortable than having a tooth extracted. The appointments last between 1 - 2 hours and you may require between 0 - 4 appointments.

Post-Operative Therapy appointments usually last only 10 - 20 minutes; at these appointments, sutures and plaque are removed from the surgical areas and new methods of cleaning may be introduced. These appointments are typically at weekly intervals and there are at least 2 appointments.