Some of the most common signs of Periodontal Disease
are, bad breath, bleeding when you brush, a bad taste in
your mouth, or loose teeth. If your dentist determines that
any of the above signs could be periodontal disease he or
she will refer you to the Periodontist.
The Periodontist will first perform a very thorough
examination of your teeth, gums, and oral structures to
determine what treatment is necessary and appropriate. In
some instances a simple cleaning and instructions on how to
clean your teeth will be all that is necessary. If there has
been destruction of the tissues that support your teeth and
pockets have formed, the treatments that are more extensive
will probably be necessary. These may include non-surgical
treatments such as Root Planing ( smoothing of the root
surfaces ) or occlusal adjustments (correcting the bite ).
If the bone supporting the teeth has been damaged, surgical
treatment may be recommended. Surgery can take the form of a
minor reshaping of the supporting bone or regeneration of
lost bone. The specialty of Periodontics increasingly treats
bone loss by the re-growth of the bone.
Should the dentist refer you to a periodontist, this
means that he / she has detected periodontal problems in
your mouth and the sooner these problems are corrected the
less treatment may be necessary for you to save your teeth. |