The word Periodontal translates into ‘supporting the tooth.’ Every human being is susceptible to periodontal diseases that can impact the gums and bones beneath them. Dental care is easy to overlook and the first indicator of poor hygiene is the formation of a thick, sticky layer of plaque around the teeth.
When you visit the dentist looking for periodontal care, you are essentially seeking relief from an advanced form of plaque that destroys the teeth and results in swollen, red, and painful gums. If this does not sounds familiar to you, you are lucky! Nearly 48% of American Adults suffer from some sort of periodontal disease.
Periodontal Care: The Different Processes
Your dentist should be able to identify the problem right away, but if you have an appointment soon, it is best to prepare yourself for what is to come. Let’s look at the steps taken by a dental professional to identify the gravity of your problem.
1. Diagnosis
Your dental professional will take the following steps to diagnose you with a periodontal disease.
- Collect medical history
It is important to consider a family’s dental issues, smoking or drinking habits, and dental hygiene practices to understand the gravity of a periodontal disease.
- Examine the mouth
Your dentist will look for plaque and any other physical manifestations of periodontal issues.
- Determine pocket depth
Because periodontal issues eat away at the gums and the bone, they create pockets in the mouth where bacteria can hide. Your dentist will gauge the size of these pockets to determine what treatment to opt for.
- Dental X-Rays
The last step is to determine bone loss in areas where the pockets are deep.
2. Treatment
After diagnosing the issue, your dentist will come up with a treatment plan for you. For bigger issues, you will be recommended surgery to get rid of the problem; however, non-surgical methods may also be used depending on the situation.
Scaling, antibiotics, and root planning are examples of non-surgical treatments. Surgical treatments involve soft tissue grafts, guided tissue regeneration, flap surgery, or bone grafting. The three most common periodontal diseases are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
3. Maintenance
Your dental professional should be able to provide you with a dental care plan depending on the type of surgery performed on you and your lifestyle. Ask your healthcare provider questions and details about your condition and its maintenance before and after treatment.
Conclusion
Good oral hygiene practices go hand-in-hand with healthy lifestyle choices and your genetic track record. Sometimes, all the care in the world falls short because of an inherited issue, but vigilance can help early detection and treatment of dental issues.
Our professional team of dentists at West Hill Smiles believes in high-quality care and treatment for our patients using biocompatible dentistry. Our services include General Dentistry Services Calabasas, teeth whitening, and Cosmetic Dental Services West Hills all under one roof. You can contact us or book an appointment with us to find out more.