Gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease, is a serious condition that affects nearly half the adults in the U.S. It is an infection of the gum tissue that begins with mild symptoms, but as it worsens, it can lead to a range of serious complications, including tooth loss, chronic bad breath, and life-threatening systemic illness. Fortunately, gum disease is highly treatable. At New Haven Dental Group in Branford, we are ready to help you fight it via our periodontal therapy services.
The goal of periodontal therapy is to rid the mouth of the harmful bacteria that is causing the infection in the gum tissue. Depending on the extent of a patient’s gum disease, periodontal therapy may take just a single treatment, along with regular checkups to make sure the infection has not returned. In more severe cases, multiple periodontal therapy sessions may be necessary to vanquish the bacteria and give the gums a chance to heal.
Our practice offers three types of periodontal therapy. Some patients require a combination of therapies to enjoy optimal results from their treatment. When you come to us for your periodontal checkup, we will let you know how your gums are doing and what treatments we recommend for them.
Scaling and root planing is essentially a deep cleaning of the mouth. We remove plaque and bacteria from above and below the gum line. Then, we smooth out the roots of the teeth in order to make it more difficult for bacteria to cling to them. After scaling and root planing, your gums will have the opportunity to firmly reattach to your teeth.
We can use a soft tissue laser to trim away diseased gum tissue. The laser cauterizes as it goes, which maximizes patient comfort, minimizes bleeding, and reduces the risk of procedure-related infections. A laser is more precise than a scalpel and typically leads to short recovery times.
We may prescribe antibiotic therapy, probably in the form of pills, to help your body fight off the bacteria that is attacking the gum tissue. Antibiotic therapy is often used in conjunction with other types of periodontal therapy.
The cost of your periodontal therapy will depend largely on how far your gum disease has progressed. In some cases, fighting gum disease might be simple as changing your daily oral hygiene habits and visiting us for regular checkups. In other cases, extensive treatment is necessary. We will be sure to give you a candid estimate for the cost of any procedure we recommend. We will also help you figure out whether your insurance covers periodontal therapy, and we can help you apply for financing through CareCredit if necessary. We even have a savings plan for patients without insurance.
Are you looking for help in your battle against gum disease? Contact the team at New Haven Dental Group to schedule your periodontal checkup.
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
Closed
*Every Other Thursday