Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy by Comfortable Care Dentistry
Periodontal therapy, or gum disease therapy is the treatment for the inflammatory condition affecting the tissues surrounding a tooth. Periodontal disease (gum disease) is the number one cause of tooth loss among adults and is also the single most prevalent disease in the United States affecting more people than heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, and cancer combined. The onset of gum disease begins when plaque hardens around your teeth and eventually builds-up to the point of infecting your teeth and gums. If not treated immediately, it can affect the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Gum disease is often invisible to the naked eye, and often time's people who have minor cases of gum disease don't even know it. When plaque builds without being professionally cleaned, the gums become infected and the bone tends to recede. If these processes continue to worsen and are left untreated, treatment may become more difficult. This is why it is important to schedule biannual dental check-ups with your dentist to check for signs of gum disease and to catch it in its earliest phase. The signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums during tooth brushing or otherwise
- Sensitive, red or swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Teeth that are loose or appear to have shifted
Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatments
Comfortable Care Dentistry promotes healthy gums through the least invasive and most cost-effective manner possible. This includes non-surgical treatments such as scaling and root planing, a cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins, followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Laser Gum Therapy
Dr. Kostrzewski utilizes lasers in conjunction with scaling and root planing (SRP) to improve the effectiveness of this procedure. Laser gum therapy is a great gum disease treatment because there can be less bleeding, swelling and discomfort to the patient during surgery. Dr. Kostrzewski is skilled and has a steady hand with lasers and can ensure a safe and effective treatment for patients undergoing this type of therapy.
If you cannot be treated by these methods we may refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in periodontal surgery.
To learn more about non-surgical periodontal treatments or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kostrzewski, please contact our office today. Contact Comfortable Care Dentistry Today 203-951-3153
