Periodontal Treatments

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects around 60% of adults over 30 years old in the United States. This condition is caused by several factors, like smoking, poor oral hygiene and other chronic health conditions like diabetes that can affect the immune system.

Some signs of gum disease are things like swollen gums, chronic bad breath, bleeding gums after brushing and flossing, loose teeth and a generalized aching.

How is Periodontal Disease Treated?

At your new patient visit in our Cheyenne Wyoming dental office, Dr. Meyer will do a thorough assessment including a periodontal examination. This involves measuring the space between the teeth and gums, and comparing this exam with x-rays to determine levels of bone loss. Once this is determined, the first phase of treatment is initiated. In cases of mild to moderate gum disease, our hygienist and dentist will work together in our office for the initial treatment, called Scaling and Root planing. For more advanced cases, we will refer you to a gum and bone specialist (periodontist) for evaluation.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing is the first treatment for periodontal disease. We will numb the mouth so you are comfortable, and use specialized instruments to access the deep pockets where bacteria is causing infection and bone loss. Once scaling and root planing is complete, we will start the maintenance phase of your treatment.

Periodontal maintenance is critical for managing gum disease. Because gum disease is caused by the body’s response to certain bacteria, our goal is to periodically disrupt this bacteria every 3 months to avoid the progression of the disease.