Periodontal Services

Do your gums ever bleed when you floss or brush? Many people think that this is normal, but it’s really the start of the periodontal changes that can lead to gum disease. Even children and teenagers are not immune to gum disease. Childhood periodontal issues are mostly due to a lack of brushing and flossing, but often finger dexterity can be an issue as well. Most people don’t realize that young children do not have the manual dexterity to properly brush and floss their teeth until they are able to write well. The importance of developing handwriting skills has decreased in favor of computer keyboarding skills in recent years. But pressing buttons does not develop the same kind of dexterity, and some children may require more practice and parental guidance in brushing and flossing correctly even into their early teens.

The word “periodontal” literally means “around the tooth”, and refers to the gums and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. For healthy teeth, gums, and bone, periodontal services are designed to regularly clean small deposits of bacterial plaque and tartar from around the teeth and underneath the gums before they have a chance to multiply and create disease.

The Silent Enemy

Periodontal disease is often referred to as the ‘silent enemy’ because its symptoms are often quite mild until the very advanced stages of progression. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t do anything about it. When thinking about periodontal disease remember these two things:

• For most people, adequate oral hygiene combined with regular cleanings and check-ups can prevent periodontal conditions from ever developing.
• Even though there is no cure for periodontal disease once it has taken hold, it can be controlled to the point where the potential of future damage is minimized or even eliminated.

There are many reasons why these bacteria can grow beyond the body’s ability to control them. Stress, chronic illness, depressed immune systems, certain kinds of medication and medication interactions, hormonal fluctuations including those experienced during pregnancy or menopause, smoking, lack of adequate nutrition, and inadequate oral hygiene can all contribute to the conditions that allow bacterial plaque to spread and grow below the gumline. When this happens, the toxins produced by the bacteria irritate the gums and create a chronic inflammatory response. Left untreated, this condition causes the body in essence to turn on itself in an effort to eliminate the growing infection. The gum tissue and bone surrounding the teeth are broken down and destroyed, creating pockets and bone loss to the point where the teeth eventually become loose and can even fall out. This in turn can affect speech, digestion, overall systemic health, and is a common source of bad breath.

But preventing and controlling the spread of periodontal disease is not only important for the health of your teeth and gums. Research on multiple kinds of inflammatory diseases is now confirming strong associations between periodontal disease and other chronic inflammatory conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer’s.

Our hygienist, Soheila Sabahi, is highly skilled in all aspects of periodontal therapy. Working together with Dr. Rich, she treats all levels of periodontal disease. In her years with the practice, she has helped hundreds of clients heal from the acute stages of periodontal infection and move into a stage of preventive maintenance. The steps to maintenance are different for everyone, but can often include two to four weekly appointments to clean and treat the infection beneath the gumline. These root cleanings often involve the use of an ultrasonic or piezzo-electric device to remove the most tenacious deposits of plaque and tartar. These devices are sometimes faster and more comfortable than hand-scaling alone, and do less damage to the root surfaces of the teeth. To help heal the deepest, most infected gum pockets, Soheila will often use a laser in selected areas to remove diseased tissue in an effort to help the body heal faster.

Depending upon the severity of the infection, periodontal cleanings may need to be performed three to four times per year following the initial treatment in order to keep the bacteria under control and to monitor for new health or lifestyle factors that might trigger a recurrence of infection.

For clients with no history of disease, Soheila offers regular cleanings and individualized home care instruction to help ensure that periodontal conditions do not develop in the future.