Periodontal Treatments

The type of periodontal treatment that Dr. Naik will suggest will largely depend on what kind of gum disease you have and just how bad it is. When periodontal disease is caught early on (when it is gingivitis), and no damage has been done to the actual structure of your teeth, you may only need a professional dental cleaning. However, if you are dealing with a more serious case of gum disease, you may need a deep cleaning that will include scaling and root planing. In this type of periodontal treatment, Dr. Naik will remove plaque and tartar in the deepest parts of your teeth. The idea behind scaling and planing is to smooth the root surfaces of the teeth, which will in turn allow the gum tissue to heal and eventually reattach themselves to the teeth. It is not uncommon for this treatment to be done over several visits, depending on how far the disease has progressed.

If a deep cleaning cannot fix the problem, Dr. Naik may suggest medications to help control the infection and pain, while at the same time pushing along the healing process.

Finally, if the periodontal pockets still have not healed after the scaling and planing, periodontal surgery may be necessary. During surgery, Dr. Naik will remove tartar and plaque from areas that he could not reach through the other techniques. Once he has accessed and removed any unwanted buildup, he will stitch the gums into the place, ensuring they are secure around the teeth. In the event you do need surgery, you should find it much easier to keep teeth clean in the future, as the pocket depth will likely be reduced.