Periodontal Therapy

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 50% of the entire US adult population has a form of gum disease. This infection, which occurs when plaque and bacteria are allowed to build up along the gum line, starts with subtle symptoms such as redness and swelling, but it can eventually develop into receding gums, chronic bad breath, and eventually, tooth loss. Also, gum disease is actually a common risk factor for several serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.

To make sure this little problem doesn’t turn into something more serious, the team at Cornerstone Dental Arts will always examine the health of your gums during your routine checkup. Should you show any signs of the disease, we can help you quickly manage and treat it using periodontal therapy.

CHAO PINHOLE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE®

One of the most common symptoms of gum disease is gum recession. This exposes the sensitive enamel around the roots of the teeth, which makes them much more likely to decay and simply fall out! In the past, the only way to replace this lost tissue was to use a painful gum graft, in which a piece of your own tissue was harvested and relocated to your gum line. Thankfully, using the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique, our team can restore your gums without the need for scalpels, incisions, or unnecessary discomfort.

SOFT-TISSUE LASER

Our CO2 and Diode soft-tissue lasers allow us to treat gum disease right at the source of the infection. Each device uses a highly-concentrated beam of light to almost instantly vaporize any plaque or bacteria that has built up along the gum line, and it is so precise that the rest of your gums will be completely left alone. This means that the procedure will cause little to no discomfort and that you’ll also have a much quicker and easier recovery time as well.

Most of the time, periodontal therapy treatments can be completed in just one visit, but to protect you from re-infection afterward, we may choose to use antibiotic therapy. For this, we will apply a topical antibiotic directly to your gums called Arestin, which will appear to be a powdery substance. It actually consists of thousands of tiny microspheres, and each one will gradually dissolve and place medicine right where you need it.

Are your gums red, swollen, tender, or do they bleed whenever you clean your teeth? These are the early signs of gum disease, and in order to prevent it from getting worse, you should contact us as soon as you can for treatment. This infection only gets worse over time, and it can be extremely difficult to manage on your own. To schedule an appointment, please contact our office today.