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“Periodontal” essentially means “around the tooth.” Periodontics, therefore, deals with treatment of structures surrounding the tooth such as the gums. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition which affects the gums and the jawbone in advanced stages. It often starts as a bacterial infection in the gum tissue. This stage of the infection is known as gingivitis. If left untreated, the infection progresses to the next stage causing the gums to loosen and pull away from the teeth, creating spaces known as periodontal pockets.
These pockets can become home to tartar and bacteria, eventually destroying the jawbone and connective tissue. If the infection worsens further, it can cause tooth loss.
Some of the symptoms of gum disease are:
The office of Village Dental offers several comprehensive treatment options to help you get rid of periodontal disease. The treatment administered will depend om what stage the disease is at and how much damaged it has caused to your gums, teeth and jawbone. We will conduct a thorough evaluation of your oral health before recommending treatment.
Scaling and root planing, also known as root surface debridement is a deep cleaning treatment done to preserve the health of the gum tissue, and remove calculus and bacteria that caused the infection. The treatment involves a thorough cleaning of the periodontal pockets using dental instruments. The root surfaces are then smoothed and antibiotics are used to help eliminate the infection.
Pocket reduction procedure, also known as flap surgery, is a surgical therapy that is done to eliminate or reduce the size of the periodontal pockets. Once the gum tissue heals after the procedure, it attaches to the teeth.
