What is periodontitis?
Plaque doesn't just build up on your teeth. It also builds up under your gums. This can make your gums sensitive and inflamed. It can also cause gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can become periodontitis. That's a disease of the structures supporting your teeth, and it can result in tooth loss. Like diabetes and high blood pressure, periodontitis isn't curable, but it is controllable thanks to non-surgical periodontal treatment (also known as scaling and root planing).
Why should I get non-surgical gum therapy?
If you have periodontitis, a typical cleaning won't be helpful. It can actually be harmful by allowing bacteria to remain trapped below your gums. That's where non-surgical periodontal treatment comes in. The treatment cleans underneath your gums, in areas where a toothbrush can't reach and that can't be accessed during a typical cleaning. It requires more time than a typical cleaning and more clinical expertise. If you have periodontitis, non-surgical periodontal treatment is an essential treatment to make sure you maintain your oral health.
Will non-surgical gum therapy hurt?
Before your treatment, we'll give you an anesthetic, so you won't feel a thing. But you will be sore for about 24 hours afterward.
What's the process for non-surgical gum therapy?
This is typically a two-visit treatment, and each visit takes about an hour.
How do I maintain the results of non-surgical gum therapy?
Keeping periodontitis under control begins with non-surgical periodontal treatment and continues at home with diligent brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Every three to four months, we'll ask you to come back in to make sure the disease is in check.
Questions?
Reach out any time via email or by calling (212) 686-3686.