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in Santa Fe, New Mexico Robert L. Wartell, DDS Kristine Berg Ali, DMD Sandraluz Gonzales, RDH Carmen Lucero, CTA |
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Periodontal Disease TreatmentPeriodontal disease is responsible for the majority of teeth that must be extracted. It is caused by infectious bacteria that live on the surface of your teeth. There are a number of factors that contribute to the progress of periodontal disease, so it is known as a multifactorial disease. Every dental patient in our office is evaluated for the presence of periodontal disease. If you have periodontal disease we will do everything possible to help you get rid of it. If you do not have it, we will help you learn how to prevent it. 85% of those with horribly bad breath have severe periodontal disease. The by-products of the bacterial action and the breakdown of gum tissues stink. Mouthwashes do not help, except for temporary masking of odor. Making your gums heal will totally eliminate this cause of bad breath. The other 15% of bad beath is cause by medical disorders. If we suspect that this is the cause of your bad breath, we will suggest a referral to a physician. The factors involved in periodontal disease include: quality and frequency of oral hygiene techniques, excessive occlusal (bite) forces, diabetes, smoking, pregnancy, and immune disorders. The treatment of periodontal disease begins with you. Oral hygiene is the most important factor, and the one you have the most control over. We will coach you in the specific techniques you need to combat the factors in your mouth that contribute to periodontal disease. We don't nag you, we encourage you. Occlusal factors are often a major contributor to the loss of supporting bone around the teeth in periodontal disease. If this is true in your mouth, we will alert you to this and offer solutions. In most cases where occlusion is a factor in periodontal bone loss, the disease cannot be halted without correcting the occlusion. Smoking. You already know enough reasons to stop. This is another. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that make you more susceptible to periodontal disease, usually in the form of gingivitis. This is seen as swollen, bleeding gums. Hormones are only a factor, and excellent oral hygiene techniques will cure gingivitis. Immune disorders may cause rapid advancement of periodontal disease. The breakdown of periodontal tissues is an auto-immune response of your body to the periodontal bacteria. Your goal is elimination of all harmful bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. Treatment of periodontal disease involves four direct phases, and an important indirect phase. The indirect phase is all yours - do all the things your Mom told you to do to stay healthy. This boosts your immune system to help prevent the effects of periodontal bacteria. The first direct phase is all yours also. This is the need for excellent oral hygiene, frequent enough to meet your special needs. The second direct phase is treatment in our office. Cleaning teeth is not treatment for periodontal disease. The second phase requires scaling and root planing, which is done by a hygienist or dentist, below the surface of the gums, on the roots of your teeth. Medications are sometimes needed to help achieve healing in this phase of treatment. They may be applied directly to the gums, or by oral administration. The third direct phase is referral to a periodontal dental specialist (periodontist), for more extensive treatment than we are qualified to provide. If treatment in our office has not been able to bring your disease under control, a periodontist may need to do surgical treatment of your gums. Sometimes a medical evaluation by your physician is indicated to search for underlying medical disorders. The fourth direct phase is known as Periodontal Maintenance. In most people with periodontal disease, bacteria will re-grow on your root surfaces in about 90 days. That is why most periodontal-susceptible people must have scaling under the gums every three months. Together, you and we can usually bring periodontitis under control without referring for surgery. This will require a commitment on your part, that matches the commitment on our part, to do everything that dental and medical science have learned will heal periodontal disease. Call us to make an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation. We will discuss our findings in detail, and help you attain optimal oral health.
We enjoy answering your questions.
Center For Dental Medicine • 2019 Galisteo St. • J2 • Santa Fe, NM 87505 |
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