Everyone should visit the dentist for a professional hygiene appointment at least twice per year. Our gentle hygienists will inspect your gums for periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults. The hygienists are specially trained to detect, deter, and treat gum disease. We prefer to help you maintain optimal oral health so that you never have to worry about gum disease. However, if you develop periodontal problems, we’re here to help you. If we find cause for concern, we may recommend that you change your oral healthcare routine or the products you use at home.
Many patients are surprised to learn that they have periodontal (gum) disease. This common bacterial infection invades healthy gum tissue and, left untreated, can result in tooth, gum, and bone loss. Gum disease isn’t painful in the early stages. That’s why it often goes unnoticed until it has progressed. As the leading cause of tooth loss, gum disease has been linked to stroke, heart attack, diabetes complications, osteoporosis, and other overall health risks.
AAP treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins), followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Thank you so much for such beautiful work! I am grateful to you for taking the extra time for getting it “just right” and am thrilled to have my smile fixed! What a difference a few hours and your artistic touch can make. I am so grateful!
