Periodontal Therapy

Kildeer, Illinois

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, impacts millions of people worldwide. The chronic inflammatory condition affects the supporting structures of the teeth, including the gums, bones, and connective tissues. Left untreated, periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Studio Smiles is pleased to offer cutting-edge periodontal care to manage your gum disease and prevent its devastating effects on your smile.

Our Treatments

What Are the Causes of Periodontal Disease?

Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of periodontal disease. If not removed by regular brushing and flossing, plaque hardens to tartar, irritating the healthy gum tissues. That often leads to inflammation and infection and the formation of spaces called pockets between the gums and teeth. These periodontal pockets trap food debris and plaque, providing harmful oral bacteria with the ideal environment to flourish.

Aside from poor oral hygiene, risk factors for periodontal disease include family history, smoking, diabetes, misaligned teeth, aging, and hormonal changes. The good news is that early treatment coupled with excellent oral hygiene can halt the progression of periodontal disease, preventing its impact on your oral health.

What Are the Signs of Periodontal Disease?

The following are the most common symptoms of periodontal disease:

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
Red, swollen, or tender gums
Pain when chewing
Receding gums that leave your teeth looking longer
Bad breath that doesn’t respond to brushing or flossing
Loose or sensitive teeth
Changes in how the teeth fit together
Changes in how partial dentures fit

How Can Periodontal Disease Impact My Health?

Periodontal disease can impact your health in a number of ways. The gum disease-causing bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to vital organs, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Periodontal disease has also been linked to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory concerns, Alzheimer’s disease, and pregnancy complications. Caring for your gum health lowers the risk of a host of health problems and enhances your quality of life.

How Is Periodontal Disease Treated?

The first line of treatment is a deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Scaling is similar to regular professional cleanings. It involves using an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and right below your gum line. Root planing, on the other hand, involves cleaning and smoothing your tooth root surfaces. That helps promote healing and gum tissue reattachment.

Scaling and root planing has been shown to reverse early gum disease, a condition known as gingivitis. It also helps prevent the progression of periodontal disease, safeguarding the health of your teeth and gums.

If you have advanced gum disease, a condition known as periodontitis, we may recommend additional treatments, such as gum flap surgery and debridement. That involves making small incisions to separate the gums from the teeth, removing inflamed tissues, and cleaning the tooth roots. If needed, we may treat the area with antibiotics or other medications. Our goal is to relieve your periodontal disease, improve your gum health, and prevent tooth loss.

What Happens After Periodontal Disease Treatment?

While gum disease cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed. That’s why it’s essential to follow a periodontal maintenance plan. We typically recommend dental visits every three to four months, during which we clean your teeth, measure the depth of your periodontal pockets, and intervene as needed to maintain your gum health.

Practicing excellent oral hygiene is an essential component of your periodontal maintenance plan. Make sure to brush and floss regularly and rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash. Regular visits to the dentist coupled with good oral hygiene can halt the progression of periodontal disease, maintaining your smile’s health.

What Is Mucositis?

Like your natural teeth, the gums around implants can become inflamed and infected, a condition known as mucositis, which is similar to gingivitis. Maintaining regular visits to the dentist and meticulous oral hygiene practices can help prevent the onset of gum inflammation and, if present, stop its progression from peri-implant mucositis to peri-implantitis. Similar to advanced periodontal disease, this condition can cause bone loss and may eventually lead to the failure and removal of the implant.