Healthy gums are vital to maintaining good dental health and a beautiful smile. At OC Lifesmiles we offer comprehensive periodontal care to improve and maintain the health of your gums. Whether you are affected by the early stages of gingivitis or more severe levels of gum disease (periodontitis), our Newport Beach dentist—John Cross, DDS—can utilize periodontal treatment techniques and advanced laser technology designed to provide an effective solution. During your cleaning and exam, he and his dental hygienists will evaluate your gums and gingival pockets to detect any problem areas or complications in need of treatment. When treatment is required, Dr. Cross will focus his efforts on removing plaque buildup, eliminating bacteria, and healing the gum tissue.
Benefits of Periodontal Care
Comprehensive periodontal maintenance and care protects not only your gingival health, but also works to prevent tooth loss and reduce serious risks to your overall health as well. When allowed to flourish, the harmful bacteria responsible for gum disease can erode bone density and even enter your bloodstream, causing health issues in other areas of the body. Potential benefits of periodontal care include:
- Remove plaque buildup along the gumline, between teeth, and within the pockets surrounding the roots of each tooth
- Eliminate bacteria and infection from the gums
- Heal gingival pockets and reduce pocket depth
- Reduce gum pain, bleeding, inflammation, and/or redness
- Resolve persistent bad breath related to active disease
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and the spread of infection to other areas of the body
- Protect teeth and jawbone density
Periodontal Treatments and Procedures
Scaling and root planing, also called a deep cleaning, is typically the initial phase of therapy for any stage of periodontal disease. The procedure involves physically removing plaque, tartar, bacteria, and other buildup from the teeth and along the roots within the gingival pockets. Local anesthetic is used to numb the gums during the cleaning process to reduce any significant discomfort. Once scaling and planing is complete, Dr. Cross may recommend an antimicrobial rinse to attack any remaining bacteria. For patients with deep infected pockets, Arestin®—a time-released antibiotic—can be administered to affected areas to continuously fight bacteria for up to 21 days.
Depending on the unique circumstances of your condition, Dr. Cross may prefer to utilize laser dentistry in phases of your periodontal treatment to more precisely remove bacteria and diseased tissue. The dental laser is an incredibly advanced tool that helps to protect surrounding healthy tissue from damage during treatment.
Whether you are treated with the laser or traditional dental instruments, once your treatment is complete, the gingival pockets will be allowed to heal. Ideally, the disease-free tissue will rebond with the tooth roots to reduce pocket depth. Dr. Cross will likely recommend that you come in more frequently for cleanings and checkups to note healing progress and keep plaque buildup and bacteria under control.
Results of Periodontal Care
Timely, effective periodontal treatment can prevent both the development and progress of gum disease. Patients who undergo these therapies at our practice typically report a dramatic reduction in pain and a marked improvement in the appearance of their gums. For the best long-term results, patients are encouraged to keep up with proper daily dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) and attend regularly scheduled dental appointments.
Contact OC Lifesmiles
For more information about gum disease and the periodontal treatments we offer, we invite you to contact our office to connect with a member of our team.
