Frequently Asked Questions About Treatment of Periodontal (Gum) Disease

What procedure or treatment is right for you?

Dental Implants

What are the advantages of dental implants?
Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. They can help prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework or dentures. In addition, they don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. Implants are secure and offer freedom from the clicks and wobbles of dentures. The success rate of implants is highly predictable.

More about dental implants

How do I care for my dental implants?
Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply.

Surgery

How can I avoid surgery for my periodontal disease?
Depending on how far your periodontal disease has progressed, treatment can vary widely. If the disease is caught early, simple procedures can be done that will remove the plaque and calculus from below the gum line and eliminate the infection-causing bacteria. If the disease has advanced to the point where the periodontal pockets are deep and the supporting bone is lost, surgery might be necessary. You may have heard about new products on the market that claim to cure periodontal disease. However, they do not replace traditional periodontal therapy. Rather, the intent of these products is to improve the effectiveness of traditional therapies.

Will periodontal surgery hurt?
New treatment options using refined techniques can be performed comfortably as office procedures. Improvements in medications, local anesthesia, anxiety and pain control, and, in some cases, conscious sedation are available to make your treatment more pleasant and comfortable.

Maintenance Therapy

What is maintenance therapy?
Maintenance or supportive periodontal therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent periodontal disease from recurring in patients who have undergone periodontal treatment. This ongoing phase of treatment will allow your periodontist to assess your periodontal health and make sure infection stays under control. During maintenance therapy, your mouth is examined, new calculus and plaque are removed, and, if necessary your teeth are polished and your bite is checked.

How often do I need maintenance therapy?
The answer varies from person to person. Your dentist or periodontist will recommend a schedule that best that is tailored to protect your periodontal health. The intervals between visits may range from every few weeks to four times per year, in addition to checkups by your general dentist.

Non-Surgical Treatments

What are root scaling and planing?
These are non-surgical procedures in which the periodontist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Tooth root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets, because aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to get a foothold.

Use of Lasers in Periodontal Therapy

Are there potential benefits to using lasers in periodontal therapy?
Limited research suggests that the use of lasers as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) may improve the effectiveness of this procedure. SRP is a non-surgical therapy used to treat periodontal diseases. In addition, when the lasers are used properly during periodontal therapy there can be less bleeding, swelling and discomfort to the patient during surgery.

Can the use of lasers in periodontal therapy harm patients?
Yes and no. Each laser has different wavelengths and power levels that can be used safely during different periodontal procedures. However, damage to periodontal tissues can result if an inappropriate wavelength and/or power level is used during a periodontal procedure.

Does the research on lasers support their use in periodontics at this time?
At this time, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that any specific laser wavelength is superior to the traditional treatment methods of the common periodontal diseases, such as periodontitis.

Review the research on laser periodontal treatment.

Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures

What can be done to improve the look of my "gummy" smile?
Crown lengthening is a procedure to remove excess gum tissue to expose more of the "crown" of the tooth. Your gumline can be sculpted to give your new smile just the right look.

More about crown lengthening.

What can be done to correct my "long" teeth or receding gums?
Soft tissue grafts and other root coverage procedures are designed to conceal exposed roots, reduce further gum recession, and protect your vulnerable roots from decay. During this procedure, your periodontist takes gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.

Payment

Will insurance cover periodontal procedures?
Many insurance plans pay a portion of periodontal services. Your periodontal health is important, so talk to your periodontist about payment options. Often the office staff will work with your insurance company to secure maximum benefits.