Periodontal Maintenance

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing to treat the infection. The purpose of scaling and root planing is to remove bacteria and their toxins (plaque) as well as calculus (tartar) from below the gum line and root surfaces. Routine dental cleanings (prophylaxis) generally clean above the gum line and are not recommended for treating periodontal disease. In the development of periodontal disease, plaque first builds up on the tooth surface at the gum line. If it is not effectively cleaned from the tooth surface, the bacteria migrate under the gum, onto the root surface and into the surrounding tissue and bone. Once the bacteria are present under the gum, they begin to destroy the tissues and bone that hold the tooth in place. If left untreated, the infection could lead to severe damage of the gums, bone and eventual tooth loss. Some signs of periodontal disease are bad breath, red swollen bleeding gums, recession or loose teeth. However, some people don’t experience any symptoms when gum disease is first beginning.

Once the bacterial plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth and root surfaces, healing can begin. The tissues have a chance to regain health and reattach to the tooth surface. Bone loss, however, cannot be reversed. This is why it is important to treat periodontal disease in its earliest stages before it has a chance to severely destroy the bone.