Periodontal Therapy in Hillsborough, New Jersey
Your odds of suffering from gum disease at some point in your life are very high. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and the majority of Americans suffer from some level of it, even if it is just the beginning stages. If your gum disease progresses, it will take more than a stringent home hygiene routine to return to health. When this is the case, our dentists will recommend periodontal therapy by one of our talented hygienists at Dubitsky Family Dental.
You’ll want to visit our office if you notice any of the warning signs of gum disease, such as:
- Bleeding gums
- Red, tender, or swollen gums
- Shifting teeth
- Bad breath
These are some of the earlier warning signs. Later symptoms of gum disease include pus between teeth and bone loss. Because the gums help hold teeth in place, the deterioration of these soft tissues will lead to tooth loss if untreated. That’s why we want to perform periodontal therapy as early as possible to prevent lasting and extensive damage. Periodontal therapy involves cleaning the infected areas and modifying the tooth root to prevent infection in the future.
The non-surgical periodontal therapy treatments are called scaling and root planing. Most patients will not require further treatment once these procedures are performed. However, sometimes we may recommend further treatment with laser therapy and/or placement of a localized antibiotic. Once we’ve completed your periodontal therapy at our Hillsborough office, we’ll teach you how to prevent the problem from progressing. It’s all about regular flossing; when you floss, you remove infection-causing agents below the gum line where brushing just can’t reach. We may also recommend more frequent checkups and hygiene visits for a period of time after your periodontal therapy. In more serious cases, we may refer you to a trusted periodontist for further evaluation and intervention.
To discuss your gum health with the team at Dubitsky Family Dental, contact us and schedule an appointment. We’ll provide a thorough examination and make any treatment recommendations to ensure that you can maintain health going forward.