Periodontics
Preventing, Diagnosing, and Treating in Wilmington, NC
Periodontics
Periodontal disease is a gradual condition that results in the recession of the jawbone and can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Our team is dedicated to preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases are mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed.
The goal of periodontal treatment is to thoroughly clean the pockets around teeth and prevent damage to the surrounding bone. Of course, you have the best chance for successful treatment when you also adopt a daily routine of good oral care. Visit us in Wilmington if you are experiencing any gingivitis symptoms.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatments
If periodontitis isn’t too advanced, patients may have treatments available that are non-surgical and less invasive. Scaling is a treatment that involves the manual removal of tartar and bacteria from your teeth and beneath your gums. Root planing smooths the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of bacteria and tartar, as well as eliminating any bacterial byproducts responsible for inflammation or healing delays. Finally, topical antibiotic gels or mouth rinses can help deep clean gum pockets and eliminate infection-causing bacteria from your mouth.
Surgical Periodontal Treatments
Depending on the severity of your periodontitis, surgical treatment methods may be required. Flap surgery is a method where your periodontist makes small incisions in your gum that can be lifted to expose the roots, allowing for the scaling and planing to occur beneath. Some other methods that might be used include soft tissue grafts, bone grafting, and tissue-stimulating proteins. Tissue-stimulating proteins involve applying a special protein-containing gel to diseased areas to stimulate the growth of healthy tissue.