If you have recently been diagnosed with a stage of gum disease, your dentist has likely already let you know that you will need regularly scheduled deep cleanings in order to manage your symptoms. Your periodontal cleaning may be more in-depth than a typical prophylaxis and focuses on your gum tissues rather than your pearly whites. In today’s blog, your team at BC Periodontics in Dallas, TX, is here today to talk about what you should expect from the scaling and root planing treatments.
Receiving Your Diagnosis
How do you know if you have periodontal disease? In some cases, you may not have any symptoms or notice any changes to your oral health. However, since your dentist can get a closer look at your soft tissues and teeth, they may be able to diagnose the infection. In many cases, periodontal disease is accompanied by symptoms such as swollen, red, or irritated gums. Improved oral hygiene can reverse the disease in the early stages of gingivitis. If you have reached a more serious stage, you may require long-term maintenance to keep your symptoms at a manageable state.
Scaling And Root Planings
If you have been diagnosed with gingivitis or a further stage of periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing treatments to manage the infection. Root planing is a thorough cleaning to remove bacteria from around your gums and prevent the infection from worsening. Scaling involves removing plaque and tartar from around the soft tissue, which may help reduce halitosis (bad breath). After this, root planing is performed to smooth out the roots of your teeth, which may help prevent tissue recession and keep the bacteria from sticking to the area. You may need to have these deeper cleanings performed more often than your typical checkup and cleaning, depending on the severity of your infection.
Surgical Treatments For Gum Disease
In some cases, regularly scheduled scaling and root planing treatment may help prevent your gum disease from progressing to a more severe stage. But even with a maintenance plan, your soft tissues can be damaged, and you may need more extensive treatments like periodontal surgery. A common problem that patients with periodontitis can face is large pockets in soft tissue. The bacteria that cause the infection can create pockets in the tissue, which can lead to bone and tissue loss. To keep your smile safe from further damage, we can reduce the pockets through surgical treatment. Another common treatment is tissue grafting, which is most often performed when you are experiencing severe recession.
Learn More With Our Team
Do you need help managing symptoms of periodontal disease? Call the team at BC Periodontics in Dallas, TX, today at 214-443-0876 to learn more about your options for periodontal disease treatments.
