Expert Periodontal Therapy in Baton Rouge: Restore Your Gum Health

With more than 60 million Americans impacted by it, periodontal (gum) disease is the leading threat to your oral health.

If not treated in its early stages, gum disease can result in substantial health problems such as tooth loss, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and much more.

You can identify common symptoms at home, including:

• Red, swollen gums
• Bleeding
• Chronic bad breath
• Increased tooth sensitivity

Diagnosis

Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination. This type of exam should always be part of your regular dental check-up.

A periodontal probe is gently used to measure the pocket or space between the tooth and the gums. The depth of a healthy sulcus measures 1-3mm and does not bleed. The periodontal probe helps indicate if pockets are deeper than 3mm. As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets usually get deeper.

Your hygienist or dentist will use pocket depths, amount of bleeding, inflammation, tooth mobility, etc, to make a diagnosis that will fall into the category below:

• Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Plaque and its toxin by-products irritate the gums and cause them to swell, be tender and bleed.

• Periodontitis

Plaque that isn’t removed from the tooth will harden to a rock-like substance called tartar or calculus. As this tartar grows it will invade the areas in between the teeth or below the gumline and release a toxin that destroys the gum’s attachment to the tooth and the bone around the tooth.

Pockets greater than 3mm are present. Also, some recession may be present, along with inflammation and bleeding. This infection in the gums is usually painless.

• Advanced Periodontitis

As the bacteria and toxins inhabit the area below the gum they continue to grow and multiple creating deeper pockets, 6mm or more, and advanced bone loss. There is often an odor associated with this disease, along with inflammation, bleeding and recession.

At Elements Dental Spa – Baton Rouge Dentist & Aesthetics Spa,  we safeguard your gum health with our preventative dentistry services like periodontal therapy.

We have services for the various stages of this disease:

1. Early stages: We provide a program of professional cleanings to reverse the effects of gum disease.
2. Scaling and root planing: If the infection has spread, we can use a deep cleaning technique to remove plaque and harmful bacteria from below the gumline.
3. Severe periodontal disease: When your tooth root and bone are affected, we can initially use a deep cleaning technique to remove plaque and harmful bacteria from below the gumline. However, we would also further evaluate you for additional laser or surgical periodontal treatments or refer you to a periodontist. 

Your gums are the foundation of not only your oral health but your overall well-being. Let’s work together to safeguard this key feature of your personal health!

Periodontal Maintenance Therapy in Baton Rouge

It takes only twenty-four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into tartar or calculus. Daily homecare helps control plaque and tartar formation, but those hard to reach, areas will also need special attention to prevent dental issues.

Once your periodontal therapy has been completed, your dentist and hygienist will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings up to four times a year.

At these, cleaning appointments the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy. Plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed from above and below the gumline.

In addition to your periodontal cleaning and evaluation, your appointment will usually include:

• Examination of diagnostic x-rays – essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss.
• Examination of existing restorations – check current fillings and crowns
• Examination of tooth decay – check all surfaces for decay
• Oral cancer screening – check the face, lips, tongue, throat, cheeks, and gums for oral cancer
• Oral hygiene recommendations – review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed.
• Teeth polishing – remove stain and plaque that is otherwise not removed during tooth brushing and scaling

Good oral hygiene practices and periodontal cleanings are essential in maintaining dental health and keeping periodontal disease under control. Call us at (225)-398-8812 to schedule a cleaning today!