Maintain Great Gum Health with Periodontal Therapy
Healthy Gums
When it comes to oral health, people often find themselves so preoccupied with the teeth themselves that they often forget their vital support system: the gum tissue. In fact, gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is one of the most common health problems in the world, as well as the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. You may be experiencing it as well if any of the following symptoms seem familiar:
- Bleeding gums, especially after brushing/flossing
- Gum tissue that looks suspiciously red or swollen
- Excessive, chronic bad breath
- A receding gum line (your teeth will appear longer)
Tackling gum disease with focused treatment as early as possible is crucial to prevent the spread of infection, which is why Dr. Todd Balington and the rest of our team will be sure to identify it as early as possible. Please give our Denton, TX office a call today if it’s been some time since your last checkup. We also welcome new patients from Krum, TX and other surrounding areas.
Several options are available for periodontal therapy, and our recommendation will depend on the severity of your current condition. They include:
Scaling & Root Planing
When a routine cleaning won’t be enough to combat the damage left by gum disease, scaling and root planing is the logical next step. This procedure targets the areas underneath the gum line and along the tooth roots. During the scaling portion, our team will remove dangerous bacteria and plaque from these vulnerable areas. Then, root planing will smooth the rough surfaces of the roots (prime areas for bacterial growth) so that further infection is less likely to occur.
Soft Tissue Laser Therapy
With our state-of-the-art soft tissue laser, treating and removing diseased tissue from the mouth is simpler than ever before. The focused energy is comfortable, precise, and instantly sterilizing; this means that common post-operative symptoms like swelling and bleeding are greatly reduced. New, healthy tissue regeneration is encouraged by this technique as well, which is good news for patients!
Antibiotic Therapy
Dr. Balington typically recommends antibiotic therapy in combination with the above two methods. The application of the medicine to the gums helps to treat any infectious bacteria that may have slipped through the cracks, resulting in an improved result for the patients’ health and ongoing recovery.