Periodontal Therapy

Your Dental Team

We appreciate our relationship with our dentist colleagues; together we provide comprehensive care to protect your oral health. The general dentist provides preventive care and dental health maintenance; they see you on a regular basis for hygiene services and dental exams, as well as to address any restorative needs, such as fillings or crowns.

Dr. O'Neal supports the general dentist and their patients with procedures related to the treatment of gum (periodontal) disease and other periodontal services, including dental implant placement, laser periodontics, periodontal surgery, and soft tissue and bone grafts.

Periodontal Disease Diagnosis

During your regular dental exam visits, the dentist and dental hygienist will perform a screening for periodontal disease. The periodontal screening includes ‘measuring’ your gum pockets (area between the teeth and gums) with a small instrument that is marked in millimeters. An indicator of periodontal disease are readings of 4 millimeters or higher, accompanied by bleeding gums, gum recession or infectious drainage. Learn more about periodontal disease.

Your dentist and hygienist will also review dental x-rays to look for bone loss, another sign of advanced periodontal disease.

Management of Periodontal Disease

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, your dentist may have recommended periodontal therapy. The objective of periodontal therapy is removal of harmful bacteria and toxins from the mouth to 1) stop the progress of the infection and 2) give the soft tissue and bone a healthy environment to heal.

Periodontal therapy includes removal of hard deposits from the root surfaces of the teeth below the gums, a procedure known as root planing. These hard deposits (also called calculus or tartar) occur when bacteria spreads underneath the gum tissue and begins to harden and mineralize on the tooth surface.

It is not possible for the patient to remove calculus with normal brushing and flossing; a dentist or dental hygienist must remove these deposits from the tooth surfaces with special dental instruments or technical devices. Root planing is performed to create a clean, smooth tooth root surface and remove diseased soft tissue to eliminate bacteria and promote healing.

Dr. O'Neal and our dental hygienists work with the general dentist and team to assist our mutual patients with the treatment and management of periodontal disease.

Upon referral to our practice, Dr. O'Neal will review the general dentist's findings and recommendations prior to your periodontal consultation. During your periodontal examination, she will measure your gums and provide you with a periodontal assessment and treatment plan. Dr. O'Neal may recommend root planing and other periodontal treatments to eliminate infection and restore healing.

The Periodontal Timeline

Initial treatment of periodontal disease generally includes root planing procedures, or in some cases, surgery to get the infection under control and restore the mouth to a healthy state. Early treatment can save bone (and teeth), so your dentist and Dr. O'Neal will be very proactive in managing periodontal disease.

Continual maintenance is also important to prevent recurrence of periodontal disease. Following initial periodontal treatment, Dr. O'Neal may recommend that the patient return to our office every 3-6 months for periodontal maintenance procedures.

During the maintenance visit, Dr. O'Neal will re-examine the gum tissue and review dental x-rays to monitor for further bone loss. She and our dental hygienist will clean the tooth surfaces and address any early signs of re-infection.

In most cases, Dr. O'Neal will recommend that we alternate your periodontal maintenance visits with your general dentist. Your dentist will evaluate your periodontal health, as well as examine your teeth and existing restorations to diagnose other problems, such as tooth decay or worn fillings or crowns. Dr. O'Neal and your dentist will share their findings to provide you with a total care approach to your dental health.

Periodontal Therapy is a good investment in Your Health

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you are probably aware that a consequence of not treating the infection is inevitable tooth loss. Not only is prevention of tooth loss important to avoid costly tooth replacement procedures, it is essential to your physical health. Keeping your bite and teeth in good working order is central to the body's digestive processes.

Inflammation in the mouth can also have harmful effects on your body's systems, especially if you have other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Learn more about the mouth-body health connection.