Our gums are one of our bodies’ most essential parts, but they are often forgotten until something transpires to bring our attention back to them. Periodontal disease affects millions of people each year, and if you have suffered from it and are looking for periodontal maintenance therapy in Dunedin, Florida, Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry can help.
WHAT IS PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE THERAPY?
Periodontal maintenance therapy is a method of caring for the mouth’s soft tissue after diagnosing and treating periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is also called gum disease. This disease affects the mouth’s soft tissue and often leads to swelling, painful gums, red gums, and infection in the gums, and it can even lead to significant tooth damage or loss. Following treatment of this disease, those who have suffered from it are more likely to see it return and need special care to keep the disease at bay and keep their teeth healthy.
WHAT DOES PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE THERAPY INCLUDE?
- Scaling of the gum line
- Root planing
- Extensive cleaning
The first step in this treatment is scaling the gum line. That means a small tool is used to push beneath the gums to remove any build-up, infection, and toxins that might be lurking there. Tartar is common above the gum line and should be removed as quickly as possible to keep it from getting hard and setting up into calcified deposits. Removal of tartar below the gum line will prevent the periodontal disease from coming back and from being much more severe. Root planing is a similar treatment where tartar is removed from the root.
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This treatment is needed to remove any residual build-up or anything that might come back after your initial visits. This therapy is needed to be done every three to four months until the dentist is satisfied that your periodontal disease is entirely under control and your teeth and gums are healthy. Those prone to gum disease should make sure they clean their teeth thoroughly at home and visit the dentist every six months, at the very least, for a complete cleaning.
For those in the Dunedin, FL, area, call (727) 608-4690 for an appointment with Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry today.
Drs. Ryan Lepore and Erin Dougherty are ready and waiting to give you a healthy set of teeth and gums that will feel and look great.
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