Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and supporting bone surrounding the teeth. It can affect one tooth or many teeth. Periodontal disease results in irreversible loss of bone support around your teeth. It is a serious and often ongoing condition, but it can be controlled with long-term treatment.

Oral hygiene instructions

The first and most important service we provide is teaching you how to clean your mouth effectively and efficiently. Although it may sound simple, most adults have never been shown how to brush and floss properly. We will teach you these fundamentals, as well as specialized tools in a regimen tailored to your periodontal needs.

Scaling & root planing

After oral hygiene instructions, you may receive scaling & root planing, otherwise known as a deep cleaning. Scaling & root planing differs from a regular cleaning because it allows more time and attention to be paid to the underlying cause of gum disease.

The goal of scaling and root planing is to reduce the infection in the mouth by removing bacterial plaque and tartar build-up.

Pocket reduction surgery

When gum disease is too advanced to be addressed by deep cleanings alone, pocket reduction surgery helps to improve the long-term prognosis of the teeth.

In this procedure, the bacterial debris and tartar build-up are removed from the roots of the teeth. Furthermore, the surgery provides the access to eliminate problems deeper in the bone. The result is that the support around the teeth is restored to a healthy, natural contour, and you will be able to clean and maintain your teeth.

Bone regeneration

In select circumstances, a specialized procedure can be performed in conjunction with pocket reduction surgery, to help re-form some of the support around the teeth. This is achieved through a process called bone regeneration.

This type of surgery takes advantage of your body’s natural process of turning over bone. Your periodontist can perform a surgery to place bone mineral into the area of deficiency. Over time the mineral will be replaced with your own, living bone, restoring support to the teeth.