Did you know that regular dental checkups are insufficient to manage and treat gum disease? Dr. Curry Leavitt offers regular periodontal maintenance services designed to keep your gum tissue healthy and prevent bacteria from spreading further. Here are four things you should know about periodontal maintenance.
- Periodontal Disease Cannot Be Cured
Unfortunately, once periodontal disease has developed, it cannot be cured. However, it can be managed and kept from progressing with proper periodontal care and treatments. Frequently having your gums checked, cleaned and treated can prevent further spread of the bacteria that cause gum disease.
- You Should Have Maintenance Regularly
In addition to your regular six-month dental checkups, you should also schedule periodontal checkups every four to six months if you have periodontal disease. Depending on the severity of your case, Dr. Leavitt may recommend that you receive maintenance more or less often than this. When combined with a good oral hygiene routine, regular periodontal maintenance will keep your disease in check and minimize damage to the soft and hard tissues of your mouth.
- Periodontal Maintenance Involves Several Steps
When you attend your periodontal appointment, you may receive one or all of the following treatments:
- Supragingival cleaning: This involves thoroughly cleaning above the gum line to remove calculus and plaque.
- Subgingival cleaning: This important step involves the removal of calculus and bacteria from below the gum line and within the gum pockets. This type of care is not offered during regular dental checkups.
- Root Planing: During this procedure, the tooth root is smoothed and bacteria is removed.
Frequent removal of supragingival and subgingival bacteria can control inflammation and prevent further degradation of gum and bone tissue.
- Anesthetic Can Be Used
Worried about the pain you might experience during periodontal services? If you are suffering from anxiety, rest assured that Dr. Leavitt offers several anesthetic options as needed to numb the treatment area and reduce discomfort at his office in Las Vegas, NV.
