Gum Disease Treatment
A dentist or periodontist may recommend certain procedures after diagnosing, determining a prognosis and facilitating a treatment plan. One treatment method for periodontal disease is accomplished by scaling and root planning or nonsurgical periodontal therapy, which accomplishes the removal of plaque and dental calculus (tartar) from the root surfaces through procedures using hand, sonic and ultrasonic instruments. Adjunct therapy, such as antimicrobial medicines, is typically followed after scaling and root planning.
Laser treatment is sometimes used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. During periodontal procedures, each laser uses different wavelengths and power levels to safely remove calculus deposits. Another form of treatment is pharmacological therapy, which involves both systemic and local drug delivery. Systemic antibiotics are used to decrease or halt the progression of periodontitis; however, local delivery involves chemotherapeutic agents (chemical substance) that provide controlled delivery within periodontal pockets to improve periodontal health.
Surgical therapy procedures are used to provide better access for the removal of plaque and dental calculus, to construct gum tissues, and to reduce depth of pockets. Regenerative surgical therapy procedures are performed to regenerate lost bone and tissue when the bone supporting teeth has been destroyed by periodontal disease. Some of the damage can be reversed through regenerating lost tissue and bone.