Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy
Once periodontal disease has been diagnosed, a patient is no longer eligible for a “regular dental cleaning” and must be treated with gingival therapy, or scaling and root planing.
Do I have Periodontal Disease?
During the initial visit to Hurlbut Dental, one of our dental hygienists will evaluate the health of the teeth, bone, and gums with x-rays and periodontal probe measurements. In healthy gums, those measurements range from 1-3mm. However, if the gums are swollen or receding due to a bacterial infection, those measurements may range from 4-10mm. These “deeper” periodontal probe measurements mean that there is an infection in the gums/bone, and patients have likely lost some of the bone surrounding their teeth. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is present once we experience loss of bone surrounding teeth or chronic infections in the gums.
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Patients commonly recommended for Non-surgical periodontal therapy include
- At least one tooth with 3 mm of gum attachment loss
- Symptoms or diagnosis of gingivitis
- Symptoms or diagnosis of moderate chronic periodontitis
If Dr. Allison Hurlbut or Dr. Kelsey Sasse recommends this form of therapy, they will first begin with scaling and root planing, commonly known as a ‘deep cleaning.’ These appointments are different from common dental cleanings to prevent further breakdown of the periodontal structures. The goal of these cleanings is to maintain the health of your gums by removing harmful bacteria and plaque from deeper pockets in the gums. Dental hand tools or ultrasonic devices can be used for these cleanings.
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Scaling and Root Planing
This first begins with scaling and root planing, commonly known as a ‘deep cleaning.’ One or our skilled hygienists will numb the area so that you are comfortable during treatment. Typically, a deep cleaning is completed over 2 visits to ensure full debris removal. A few weeks after the deep cleaning has been completed, we will have you return to the practice so we can evaluate the tissue healing and determine future treatments.
Periodontal Maintenance
Once the deep cleaning is complete, the disease is not fully healed and must be maintained throughout the patient’s lifetime. Patients that have been diagnosed with periodontal disease must come in 2-4 times a year for periodontal maintenance appointments to ensure that there is no further loss of bone or recurrent infections.
Scaling and Root Planing
This first begins with scaling and root planing, commonly known as a ‘deep cleaning.’ One or our skilled hygienists will numb the area so that you are comfortable during treatment. Typically, a deep cleaning is completed over 2 visits to ensure full debris removal. A few weeks after the deep cleaning has been completed, we will have you return to the practice so we can evaluate the tissue healing and determine future treatments.
Periodontal Maintenance
Once the deep cleaning is complete, the disease is not fully healed and must be maintained throughout the patient’s lifetime. Patients that have been diagnosed with periodontal disease must come in 2-4 times a year for periodontal maintenance appointments to ensure that there is no further loss of bone or recurrent infections.
Patient care is important to us at Hurlbut Dental. We want to be there when patients need us. Choose us for non-surgical periodontal therapy.
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Dental Emergencies
We understand that dental emergencies happen. If you are experiencing one of these dental issues please call our office at 402-438-5588.