Periodontal Root Planing

Root planing, also known as deep scaling, is necessary for those patients who require more than a simple periodic cleaning due to some degree of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can cause significant problems including such things as bone loss and tooth mobility, even tooth loss. The procedure known as root planing removes plaque, bacterial toxins, calculus and diseased tissue from the root surfaces of the tooth. This then deters plaque and bacteria from further damaging the tooth and the tissue surrounding it, thereby promoting better periodontal health.

Periodontal Surgery

Surgery may be necessary for a patient if periodontal root planing and periodic periodontal maintenance cleanings have not improved the patient’s situation. A gingivectomy or gingivoplasty is a procedure which involves removing soft tissue from the affected area so as to reshape and tighten the tissue to promote better periodontal health.

Chemotherapeutic Agents

Often times we use chemotherapeutic agents (much like antibiotics) in coordination with other techniques to treat periodontal disease. At a patient’s periodontal maintenance visit we can place a material under the gums which promotes better periodontal health.

Grafting

Grafting is necessary when there is an area in the mouth that is lacking sufficient bone or tissue. For example, if a patient has an area where their gums are receding and they do not have enough attached gingiva to maintain proper periodontal health, we may need to do periodontal grafting. The doctor can remove some tissue from an area of the mouth where there isn’t a problem, and transplant it to the necessary site. Over time, as the area heals, new tissue will grow, fixing the problem. Grafting can also be done in select areas where there has been bone loss or a defect in the bone by using a synthetic bone material, which promotes new growth.