Determining if you have periodontal disease
Dr. Obradovic or Adriatic Dental's hygienist or periodontist can determine whether you have periodontal disease by measuring the size of your pockets, or the spaces or gaps in the gums around the teeth. This is done with a special instrument that is much like a tiny ruler. Pockets that measure 4mm (millimeters) or more in depth, and/or gums that bleed during probing, may mean that infection is present.What are the Symptoms?
Because periodontal disease attacks beneath the gum line, you could have an infection and not know it. And while there are usually a few signs and symptoms of the disease-red, swollen, or bleeding gums; bad breath; loose teeth; gums that bleed upon brushing-some people experience no symptoms at all.How can I treat it?
Start by having your dental professional remove the bacterial “intruders”. Dental professionals commonly treat periodontal disease with a mechanical procedure known as scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the surface of teeth. Planing smooths the rough areas on the roots of your teeth to promote healing. Bacteria that hide at the bottom of pockets can be difficult to remove. While SRP has been shown to effectively remove many of the bacteria that cause infections, the instruments used during SRP sometimes can’t reach the stubborn bacteria below the gum line and in the bottom of pockets that can cause the infection to return and spread.Fight the infection with a locally administered antibiotic (LAA)
Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection and, as with any infection, treatment with an antibiotic is common. Dental professionals often add an LAA directly to the site of infection where bacteria hide.
Many dental professionals choose to add an LAA because:
- LAAs can help reduce the bacteria that SRP can leave behind
- Antibiotics treat infections in the body and periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection
- Clinical studies prove that SRP is more effective at reducing the harmful effects of periodontal disease when LAAs are added
- These effective treatments can reduce harmful bacteria before infection spread and gum disease worsens
