Periodontics

What is periodontics?

Periodontics is the part of dentistry focused on periodontal disease, including the detection, treatment, and prevention of all stages of gum disease. Periodontics also includes dental implant placement in cases where it's necessary due to advanced periodontal disease and tooth loss. 

Saugus Dental Laser Center has an experienced team that understands how to handle all types of periodontal disease. Their in-house periodontist offers expert care for any of your periodontal needs. 

What is periodontal disease?

The earliest stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. This stage happens when plaque accumulates in your mouth, which causes gum inflammation that may lead to red and swollen gums that bleed when you brush them. It's also very common to suffer from bad breath when you have gingivitis. 

If you don't actively treat gingivitis, it can worsen, eventually turning into the severe stage of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis can cause far more serious symptoms, including loose teeth, gum shrinkage, and jaw bone shrinkage. If untreated, periodontitis usually leads to tooth loss and then requires dental implants or another kind of tooth replacement.  

What happens if I'm diagnosed with periodontal disease?

If you're diagnosed with periodontal disease, the Saugus Dental Laser Center team prescribes a customized treatment. Options include:

• Cleaning using a painless ultrasonic scaler
• Teeth scaling by hand
• Root planing, which removes tartar and smooths tooth roots
• Mouth irrigation using antimicrobial solutions
• Antibiotic gum treatment
• Periodontal laser therapy using a painless laser
• Periodontal surgery

Many patients need a combination approach to fully eradicate periodontal disease. For example, the team may recommend teeth scaling, root planing, and antibiotic gum treatment to eliminate infections and allow you to heal. 

In the most serious cases of periodontal disease, you may lose teeth or need tooth extractions. In this situation, the Saugus Dental Laser Center team can help you choose the right tooth-replacement option. Usually, dental implants are the standard of care for tooth replacement after periodontal disease. Dental implants help you retain the healthy bone that you have left and can restore your facial structure along with full chewing function.

Periodontal disease doesn’t have to destroy your oral health permanently. With help from the Saugus Dental Laser Center team, you can enjoy a healthy mouth again fast. Call the office or use the online booking tool to request an appointment at any time.