Periodontal Therapy

Our mouths are home to millions of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. Bacteria form a sticky substance, plaque, that adheres to the teeth. Brushing and flossing aim to remove plaque before it hardens into tartar. Tartar becomes a colony for more bacteria and adds to their population, pumping out toxins into the gums.

Our immune system directs the gums to react to this bacterial invasion with an inflammatory response. Around the base of each tooth, a small collar of gum tissue exists that forms a small crevice or pocket. This warm, dark environment provides a perfect habitat for deeper tartar and bacterial penetration, with their toxins seeping into the base of the collar.

Early inflammation leads to bleeding gums, or gingivitis. Bacteria left untreated and undisturbed successfully create a chronic infection in the gum collar. In many cases, the bone begins to deteriorate around the teeth as the bacteria burrow deeper into the gums. While gums may be slightly tender at this stage, there’s generally minimal discomfort as the bone dissolves.

More than 50% of the bone around your teeth can disappear before any signs of looseness or pain. The bone around teeth never regenerates, so this loss becomes permanent and harder to control as the bacteria hide deeper in the gums. Untreated gum disease will lead to abscess and generalized tooth loss in many advanced cases.

After establishing a diagnosis and defining the severity of gum disease, a personalized treatment plan can be developed with you. In milder forms with little or no bone loss, one or two visits with our hygiene team may bring the condition under control. When you leave our office with a strategy for daily home care and an established schedule for maintenance, little additional treatment may be needed.

If the inflammation has advanced with measurable bone loss, a proactive approach, halting the destruction, should be strongly considered. Often, we will suggest gentle numbing of your gums for your comfort during the deeper cleaning process. One area at a time undergoes meticulous cleaning above and below the gum line, usually over several visits. The infected collar or pocket around each tooth, including the mineralized tartar, must be carefully cleaned out with hand and ultrasonic instruments. Polishing the teeth to establish glossy surfaces that help repel stains and plaque accumulation usually finishes this initial therapy.

Dr. Pollard may suggest a medicated rinse, an electric toothbrush, a Waterpik®, or other specific strategies to help you with your ongoing efforts. Remember, gum disease can be controlled but not cured. A dedicated daily routine must be consistent to control the disease.

Current research continues to establish clear links between bacterial disease in your mouth and ailments in other parts of the body. Studies show a link between oral bacteria and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and certain types of cancers. The integration of oral and general health has never been better understood than it is currently.

Bleeding gums provide a direct pathway into the bloodstream, a journey that toxic oral bacteria can quickly take. In fact, if bleeding gums were laid out in a single patch, it would create a 2 x 2-inch square. If an open wound of this size existed on your skin, infection would be a concern. Bleeding, infected gums open this door to your body and sit saturated in colonies of bacteria. This helps explain why researchers continue to identify oral bacteria deposits in various areas of our bodies.

Diabetes and other autoimmune disorders lower the body’s ability to fight infection, allowing uncontrolled gum disease to advance faster. Research also confirms that inflammation in the mouth can aggravate diabetes, making it harder to control. This two-way relationship between two chronic conditions emphasizes the importance of optimal oral health.