Supportive Periodontal Care
(It’s not just a cleaning appointment)
We are care providers, and providing care for periodontal patients is more than cleaning teeth. We must also be documenting the current status, educating you and providing recommendations as compared with the temporary effects of a cleaning procedure. When it comes to successful periodontal care, we are not the primary therapists. You the patients are, and the focus of our activities will logically include more of a coaching mentality. In addition, we will do our best in cleaning difficult areas, as well as diagnosing and documenting progressive disease (or hopefully continued health). You yourself are the best weapon for fighting periodontal disease!
Supportive care is vitally important for stopping the progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease. It is effective in keeping your mouth in proper health and halting the progression of gum disease. The benefits also include:
- Plaque removal. Tartar (also referred to as calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can result in serious periodontal problems. Unfortunately, even with a proper home brushing and flossing routine, it can be impossible to remove all debris, bacteria and deposits from gum pockets. The experienced eye of a dentist or hygienist using specialized dental equipment is necessary to catch potentially damaging buildup.
- A healthier looking smile. Stained and yellowed teeth can dramatically decrease the esthetics of a smile. Prophylaxis is an effective treatment in ridding the teeth of these unsightly stains.
- Fresher breath. Bad breath (or halitosis) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease. A combination of rotting food particles (possibly below the gum line) and higher concentrations of bad bacteria, results in bad breath. The routine removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria at our facility can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce infection.
Supportive care can be performed at our office or by your general dentist. It may be beneficial to have your regular cleanings done by Dr. Gibbs or Dr. Young, who are more familiar with the full scope of your periodontal disease. We recommend that prophylaxis be performed twice annually as a preventative measure, but often should be completed every 3-4 months for periodontitis sufferers. It should be noted that gum disease is usually a “silent” disease, not causing pain until advanced stages and cannot be completely reversed, but supportive periodontal maintenance is one of the tools Dr. Gibbs or Dr. Young can use to effectively halt its progression or at least dramatically slow it down.
