Periodontal Treatment

The dentists at Creek Dental provide periodontal treatment to our patients in Salt Lake City and Layton with gum disease, also called periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a serious condition, and if left untreated, can harm your immune system and result in tooth loss.

Periodontal disease is the result of a bacterial infection, and as such, is easily both preventable and treatable. However, if left to progress on its own, damage from this condition may be irreversible.

What Does Periodontal Disease Look Like

It is not difficult to notice if you begin to have symptoms of periodontal disease. Healthy gums are pink and firm to the touch. Gums affected by periodontal disease are red, swollen, and may even leak pus. Without periodontal treatment, over time the inflamed gums will become painful, recede, and cause teeth to loosen in their sockets. Eventually, due to the loss of tissue and bone, the teeth may fall out.

How Did I Get Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is generally the result of inadequate oral hygiene. You may have inadvertently been using improper brushing techniques that resulted in plaque and bacteria being left behind on teeth. If you sometimes forget to brush or feel too tired to brush before bed, this can also lead to periodontal disease, as can neglecting to floss regularly.

Having other risk factors can also increase your odds of developing periodontal disease. These include smoking, pregnancy, genetics, comorbidity, and vitamin deficiency.

Gingivitis, a precursor to periodontal disease, is easily spotted during dental checkups, so periodontal disease is usually seen in patients who have not visited a dentist in a long time.

What Is Periodontal Treatment

Treatment for periodontitis generally starts with scaling and root planning. Scaling, which may be done with traditional dental instruments or a laser, removes the built-up plaque and tartar on teeth. Our dentist will next plane, or smooth, the grooves and rough spots on the teeth to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to them. Patients may need to take antibiotics at this stage as well.

If the condition has progressed to a severe stage, the patient may require gum grafting, tissue regeneration techniques, crown lengthening, dental implants, or other more invasive treatments.

Once a patient has received periodontal treatment, it is likely their dentist will need to keep a watchful eye out for the disease’s return, as that patient is considered predisposed to recurrences.

Periodontal Treatment at Creek Dental

If you are having pain or bleeding in your gums, notice redness or swelling, your teeth feel loose or you notice any other troubling symptoms of periodontal disease, make an appointment at our Salt Lake City or Layton dental office right away. Our dentists will diagnose your condition and provide periodontal treatment if necessary. Tooth health is important!