Non-Surgical Procedures
Periodontal Maintenance
Patient's with periodontal disease require an ongoing maintenance program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissue and supporting bone. The interval appropriate for you will be determined by your response to treatment and your ability to perform oral hygiene techniques satisfactorily. You may be alternating cleanings between our office and your general dentist. Compliance is essential to maintaining your periodontal health.
How to Floss:
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Wind 18" of floss around your two middle fingers
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Gently guide the floss between teeth
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To remove plaque and debris, gently move the floss up and down against the tooth
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As you move from tooth to tooth, use a fresh section of floss each time
How to Brush:
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For thorough but gentle cleansing, use a soft toothbrush.
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Hold your toothbrush at a 45º angle. Begin by brushing the outside of the front teeth. Use a gentle back-and-forth motion.
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Next, brush the outside back teeth, starting along the gumline
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For inside back teeth: use short, angled brush strokes
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For inside front teeth: tilt the brush vertically; use an up-and-down motion
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For chewing surfaces: hold the brush flat. Use a gentle scrubbing motion
Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal Scaling & Root planing is a periodontal procedure meant to remove contamination and infection from beneath the gum. Scaling and root planing is usually performed in one section of the mouth at a time using local anesthesia for your comfort. A small instrument called a "scaler," or an ultrasonic cleaner, is used to clean beneath your gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
Scaling - removes deposits of bacterial plaque, calculus, food debris, and pus that have accumulated in the infected pocket due to periodontitis.
Root planing - polishes and cleans the root of the tooth so that the gum tissue may heal next to the tooth.
This non-surgical treatment is often effective in allowing complete healing of early stages of periodontitis and may reduce the extent of surgical treatment needed when performed in more advanced stages of gum disease.
Site Specific Antibiotics
Site specific antibiotic treatment is recommended when your dentist finds a periodontal pocket -- an area where the gum has separated from the tooth. Bacteria that form in this pocket are not easily removed and can cause infection. When the antibiotic is inserted in your periodontal pocket the powder contains the antibiotic, minocycline, and releases this medicine into the pocket to help kill the bacteria and treat the infection.
After an antibiotic treats the gum infection, you should expect a reduction in the depth of the pocket and the area will be easier for you to keep healthy. Significant improvement may not be immediately noticeable.
FAQ:
Is the procedure uncomfortable?
90% of patients experience no discomfort during the procedure. Be sure to let your dentist know if you experience pain or swelling at anytime during therapy.
Can I eat whatever I want with the antibiotic in place?
Yes
Can I continue to brush and floss?
Yes
Occlusal/Bite Adjustment
This procedure makes corrections to the bite associated with loose, shifting teeth or teeth that are biting too hard. Balancing and evenly distributing the biting and chewing forces on a tooth reduces the looseness and relieves excessive pressures on the supporting gum and bone structure.