Do you currently suffer from gum disease–also known as periodontitis? This condition afflicts 64.7 million Americans, so you are certainly not alone. Gum disease is essentially an infection of the gum tissue, and if it is left untreated, it can result in tooth loss. In addition, if you have gum disease, you are also at risk for diabetes and heart disease as the inflammation releases harmful bacteria throughout your body.
Thankfully, treating periodontal disease is easy in the early stages and is often reversible. In this stage, periodontal treatment usually includes stepping up your daily brushing and flossing routine followed by a professional dental cleaning. However, if you have advanced gum disease, treatment may involve additional professional dental cleanings, improved at-home oral hygiene, antibiotic treatment, scaling and root planing (deep cleanings), or gum surgery.
At Carolina Avenue Dental Care in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Dr. Stephen Craig Thomas we offer scaling and root planing for our patients with advanced gum disease. In scaling, we remove plaque and tartar (dental calculus) from the tooth surface. and with root planing we clean the roots of the teeth, smoothing the root to remove bacterial toxins. The scaling and root planing treatment may be split up into several appointments, in which we treat one section of the mouth at each appointment.
If you require treatment for gum disease, we invite you to come in and see our dentist, Dr. Stephen Craig Thomas for timely treatment. Our Carolina Avenue Dental Care team in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, is ready to help you restore your healthy smile!