Posted

What is periodontal disease?

is another word for gum disease. This involves an infection of the gums that wreaks havoc on many aspects of your health. Typically a result of incomplete oral hygiene, bacteria and plaque builds up along the gum line, allowing for the gum tissue to become infected and inflamed. Without treatment, periodontal disease will progress to devastating side effects for your dental health including tooth loss and jawbone deterioration.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the early form of gum disease. It presents its symptoms with gum bleeding during brushing, puffy, deep red-looking gums, and sometimes . Gingivitis is usually the first sign of gum disease, so periodontal treatment at this stage is absolutely necessary to prevent further complications. Usually a thorough dental cleaning and continued meticulous oral hygiene will keep gingivitis at bay.

What is a periodontal pocket?

A periodontal pocket is the space of separation between your gum tissue and teeth when gum disease is present. As the gingival infection grows, the gum tissue detaches from the tooth from the crown to the root. This allows plaque and bacteria to create a cesspool of infection. Our can measure the depth of these pockets to determine the severity of your gum disease and implement an effective treatment plan.

What is scaling and root planing?

One of the most successful , this non-surgical therapy removes infection in periodontal pockets from around the tooth and below the gum line. This process is called scaling. For the root planing, your Riverside dental hygienist will use special tools to smooth the tooth root and make it less hospitable to bacteria and periodontal pockets. Sometimes scaling and root planing will be accompanied by antibiotics to expedite healing.

For quality periodontal care for your whole family, contact our Riverside dentist office at . We serve patients throughout Riverside County.