Periodontal Therapy

Dr. Patel and Dr. Cox and their team work diligently to ensure that your periodontal health is as good as possible. At each appointment, they will examine your periodontal status and if there are changes, discuss with you the options to prevent further progression of periodontitis. There are several options available to you, and Dr. Patel and Dr. Cox will help you understand the benefits of each.

Non Surgical Periodontal Treatment

The American Association of Periodontists treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive manner possible. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment. Non-surgical periodontal treatment does have its limitations. When it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal health.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Scaling and root planing is often followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.

Most periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require any further active treatment. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health.

Laser Therapy

Research suggests that the use of lasers as an adjunct to scaling and root planing may improve the effectiveness of this procedure. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical therapy used to treat periodontal diseases. In addition, when the lasers are used properly during periodontal therapy there can be less bleeding, swelling and discomfort to the patient during surgery.