Periodontal Disease

A Common But Serious Infection

Periodontal (gum) disease is the most common bacterial infection found anywhere in the body, and affects three out of four adults. The source of the infection is plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth and multiplies deep below the gum line. Left untreated, the bacteria release toxins that can destroy the gum tissue and bones supporting your teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and can also be the cause of chronic bad breath.

View our videos about prevention and diagnosis

Treating & Managing Periodontal Disease

Except for the earliest stage called gingivitis, periodontal disease is not reversible. It is progressive and can get worse over time if not treated. As it progresses, treatments become more expensive and time consuming to manage so the goal of treatment is to get the disease under control and stop it from progressing. There are two approaches to treating periodontal disease — surgical and non-surgical.

Non-Surgical Therapy

Clinical advancements enable us to offer non-surgical therapy which can eliminate the need for painful surgery in most cases. This therapy includes:

• adherence to a regular schedule of office visits
• removal of plaque & calculus below the gum line (scaling & root planing)
• application of antibiotics & antimicrobial agents
• following a prescribed home care routine