If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, your dentist will recommend that you get periodontal cleaning, also called periodontal maintenance or therapy. Following are a few frequently asked questions regarding this treatment:
What are periodontal dental services?
Periodontal dental services or periodontics is a dentistry specialty that focuses solely on the inflammatory condition that causes the gums and other supporting structures around the teeth to deteriorate. A periodontist is a dentist that specializes in periodontal disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as placing dental implants.
What is periodontal cleaning?
This is more thorough and deeper than regular dental cleaning. It entails both scaling and root planing, which means tartar from deep between the teeth and gums must be eliminated. A dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar buildup from between your teeth and gums during periodontal maintenance treatment, stopping where the gum, root, and bone meet.
Why is periodontal therapy necessary?
It is not a cure for gum disease. However, it is necessary to control the further spread of infection and the consequential damage to your teeth and gums. In case the patient does not get periodontal cleaning as recommended by the dentist, they will have the risk of increased bacterial infection, which can eventually lead to gum recession (detachment of gums from the teeth), bleeding of the gums, teeth loss, and bone loss.
What happens during periodontal maintenance?
It is a non-surgical method of treating periodontal disease symptoms and reversing the damage. Scaling and root planing are deep cleaning procedures among the most popular and successful periodontal treatments. These two procedures remove unhealthy gum tissue and smooth rough spots on your teeth where bacteria can hide. Although surgery is not required, a local anaesthetic is frequently used to relieve pain and discomfort in the mouth.
Your dentist will use ultrasonic tools to remove the hard deposits of plaque and tartar from the teeth above and below the gum line during root scaling. Meanwhile, root planing smooths rough regions on the roots of the teeth, which can lead to gum disease. This aids in the reattachment of the gums to the teeth and the start of the healing process. To prevent gum disease from reoccurring or progressing after scaling and root planing, it is vital to maintain attentive oral hygiene habits.
How much does periodontal maintenance cost?
Apart from scaling and root planing, there are other periodontal dental services as well. Therefore, the cost depends on what kind of service you are receiving. Additionally, your dental insurance company may cover some portion of the cost since this treatment is not a cosmetic treatment. You can confirm the coverage policy by contacting your dental insurance provider.
Professional Chula Vista Dentist
Dr. Nick Addario offers quality and affordable periodontal dental services in Chula Vista. The clinic offers a comfortable and hygienic environment, where patients will have access to the supervision of expert dentists as well as assistance from trained staff.