Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Were you just diagnosed with periodontal disease? Periodontal disease, or gum disease, can become quite serious if it isn't taken care of. You may already have painful, swollen gums, but if left unchecked, the disease can cause infections and teeth to fall out. Gum disease also doesn't just affect your gums; it can put you at risk for all sorts of issues, like heart disease. Thankfully, there are ways to combat this problem--take a look.

Go in For Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)

Scaling and root planing is very similar to your regular cleaning appointments. Your dentist will start by cleaning tartar, or hardened plaque, off of your teeth. However, SRP goes a little deeper than regular dental cleanings. Once your teeth are clean, your dentist will clean tartar out your gum pockets.

This portion of the cleaning doesn't have to be painful. Your dentist will put local anesthetic in the area before cleaning out the gums. Your dentist will likely only use SRP for one section of your mouth at a time. So you may have to go in for a couple of appointments to have SRP done completely, as scaling the entire mouth in one go isn't recommended.

While SRP is more intense than a regular cleaning, it is much less invasive than dental implants and other surgeries you could need for unchecked gum disease. You will likely be a little swollen and have a little bleeding after SRP, but this should subside as you get back to a good flossing and brushing routine.

Look Into Adjunctive Treatments

Some dentists will use antibiotics, like tetracycline, to help people heal after SRP. For instance, some antibiotics can be turned into powders that can be set in the gum pockets after your dentist has cleaned them out. These antibiotics can slowly release over time so that bad bacteria stays away long after you leave the dentist chair.

Stay on Top of Your Annual/Semiannual Cleanings

Ideally, SRP should help you recover from the gum disease before it progresses. At each of your future cleaning appointments, you should have the hygienist measure your gum pockets. Pockets that are deeper than 3 mm are more likely to get infected, develop gingivitis, and cause gum disease. If you and your dentist know how your gum pockets are doing, you'll know whether or not you need more SRP treatments or whether you need to try more invasive treatments.

Talk with your dentist for more information on improving your gum health.