It is of great importance to halt the progression of periodontal disease before it causes further damage to the gum tissues and jawbone. Dr. Trujillo will initially assess the whole mouth in order to ascertain the progress of the disease. When a diagnosis has been made, Dr. Trujillo and her team may treat the bacterial infection with antibiotics in conjunction with nonsurgical treatment.
In the case of moderate periodontal disease, the pockets (under the gumline) of the teeth will be completely cleared of debris using a procedure called scaling and root planing. The pockets may be filled with antibiotics to promote good healing and kill any bacteria that remain and Laser Therapy can also be used to decontaminate the treated area after the scaling and root planing.
Severe periodontitis can be treated in several different ways, such as:
- Laser treatment – This can be used to reduce the size of the pockets between the teeth and the gums.
- Tissue & bone grafting – Where a considerable amount of bone or gum tissue has been destroyed, the dentist may elect to graft new tissue by inserting a membrane to stimulate tissue growth.
- Pocket elimination surgery – The dentist may choose to perform “flap surgery” to directly reduce the size of the gum pockets.
If you have any further questions about the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease, please ask Dr. Trujillo and her team.
