Periodontal Therapy in Oakdale, CA

Did you know that almost half of adult Americans suffer from gum disease? If treatment is not received, more severe issues like bone loss, receding gums, and tooth loss may arise. Research indicates that there may be a connection between gum disease and more general health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. At Blackhart Dentistry, we provide periodontal therapy in Oakdale, CA, to help cure gum disease.

What is Periodontal Therapy?

Gum disease, sometimes called periodontal disease, can be managed and treated with periodontal therapy. This therapy consists of surgical and non-surgical treatments that seek to manage infection, lessen inflammation, and prevent further harm to the teeth’s supporting tissues, gums, and bone. The treatments included depend on the severity of gum disease.

Periodontal disease or gum disease arises when the tissues, ligaments, and bones that support and surround your teeth get infected. It usually starts with gingivitis or gum inflammation, then progresses to periodontitis or severe gum infection. No matter what stage of gum disease you are in, Dr. Blackhart and our dental team are here to help with Periodontal Therapy in Oakdale, CA.

Effective Treatment for Gum Disease and Inflammation

At Blackhart Dentistry, we offer non-surgical and surgical treatments to help patients with gum disease. Depending on the condition of your gums, combining these treatments may bring your oral health back to optimal condition.

Non-Surgical Treatments

The most common non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease is scaling and root planing, sometimes called deep cleaning. It involves removing tartar and plaque from the tooth’s root surface, which is located beneath the gum line. Next, our skilled dental hygienists will smooth the root’s surface. By keeping bacteria from adhering to a rough surface, more infections will be avoided.

Orthodontic treatment like Invisalign may also be recommended to help prevent periodontal disease since crowded and misaligned teeth often lead to poorly cleaned gums, recession, and bone loss.

Maintenance

After being treated for periodontal disease, it is important to have regular periodontal maintenance cleanings. Your dentist and hygienist might recommend this cleaning 3 or 4 times a year to help prevent any further loss of bone support for your teeth. At this stage, it is no longer considered a preventive cleaning and should be thought of as a type of therapy that is ongoing.  

Surgical Periodontal Treatments

When severe gum disease occurs, surgery is necessary to heal the damaged teeth and gums. One such technique is gum grafting, which restores the gums covering the tooth when the gums have significantly receded. If your tooth is irreparably damaged, Dr. Blackhart might advise having it pulled and replaced with a dental implant or other treatments.

Another surgical treatment might be surgical root planing, which is performed by a periodontal specialist.  When the periodontal disease is too advanced, a referral to a periodontist may be required to properly clean the roots.

Gum Disease Treatment in Oakdale

If you are experiencing any signs of periodontal disease, such as swollen or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or a toothache, contact Blackhart Dentistry immediately. We offer Periodontal Therapy in Oakdale, CA. With our effective gum health care, our team can help restore your healthy smile.