Periodontal Treatment & Preventative Care
At Summercrest Dental, preventative care is the cornerstone of our practice.
Most common dental problems, particularly dental caries (cavities) and gum disease, are often avoidable with conscientious home care and regular visits for cleanings and examinations. Our hygienist, Janelle, provides thorough cleanings with a gentle touch to help you stay on top of plaque and tartar.
Why Do I Need a Cleaning?
We love hearing that our patients are taking care of their teeth at home. But regular cleanings with a skilled hygienist are still important. Despite your best efforts, it’s simply impossible to reach every nook and cranny of your teeth with a toothbrush and dental floss.
During your cleaning, Janelle will carefully examine every single area of your mouth and remove all traces of plaque and tartar build-up. If the plaque and tartar aren’t removed, your teeth are at an increased risk of cavities and periodontal disease.
Janelle will also check for any signs that gum disease might be developing and will discuss ways that you can improve your home care routine.
Your Regular Examination
We also strongly recommend routine check-ups with Dr. Gilstrap. During your exam, Dr. Gilstrap will check for any signs of decay or disease, including oral cancer, and address any of your questions and concerns. We will also use x-rays to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. This allows us to catch any problems that might be developing as early as possible.
The earlier we can catch potential problems, the more likely that the problem can be treated using simple, comfortable, and less costly conservative dental treatments. And saving you money, time, hassle, and discomfort is always a major goal!
Periodontal Care
Ideally, we’d like to prevent periodontal disease from ever developing, but this isn’t always possible. If you have periodontal disease, prompt treatment is important. We know that it might not seem like such a big deal – after all, your gums appear to be a fairly small part of your body! But researchers have linked periodontal disease to a number of serious systemic health conditions, including diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease. This connection is known as the oral-systemic link. So it turns out that keeping your gums healthy is actually pretty important!
In its earliest stages, when it’s known as gingivitis, gum disease can often be reversed by simply improving your home care routine. If you need some extra help, we may recommend a prescription rinse. Once your periodontal disease advances to a condition called periodontitis, however, further treatment will be necessary, including deep cleaning treatments and (possibly) prescription antibiotics. If the damage progresses past a certain point, it may only be repairable with surgical treatments. We’ll work with you closely and discuss your treatment options with you every step of the way. We believe that it’s important that you have the information necessary to make educated decisions about your oral health.
Call to Schedule Your Cleaning and Examination
Are you due for a routine check-up? Has it been awhile? Either way, give us a call. We understand that life gets busy, and we’ll never judge you or make you feel guilty. Our goal is to work with you and help you improve your oral health. Call today to schedule your next appointment.
