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What’s the first thing you notice when you meet a new person? Multiple online surveys suggest the same things: appearance, facial expression or more specifically, the smile. A person’s smile can convey many personal characteristics even before they speak a single word. Think about it: a tight lipped, Jack Nicholson-type smile evokes a very different…

When an emergency happens, it can be difficult to know how to react. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing some of the biggest questions related to dental emergencies. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be up to speed on: How to tell when a dental condition is a cause for concern. Some likely…

If you’re a fan of rom-coms or dramas, this scene might be familiar: before the big dance or life-changing board meeting occurs, some ill-luck strikes our protagonist and they break a tooth! Well, they say life imitates art and any dentist worth their salt has not only dealt with this issue but can also resolve…

It is no small secret that when we are having a good time, we tend to smile and laugh. And who doesn’t have a good time when treating themselves to some of their favorite snacks like coffee, chocolate, or wine? But be careful! Such delicious treats can make you smile, but they might take a…

In the age of social media, selfie sticks, and countless smiles being uploaded, we certainly appreciate our teeth and how much they do for our smiles. But we often don’t think about how much they contribute to our oral health, or even how much our oral health impacts us, until we suffer from a toothache…

When it comes to dental procedures, there are so many options that it can make it difficult to know where to even begin. You may have heard of veneers, but maybe you don’t know what they are, or how beneficial they can be.  What Are Dental Veneers? Veneers are a great way to give yourself…

Thanks to Etsy, Amazon, and a hundred other retailers, getting customized merchandise is easier than ever—and that includes dental supplies like toothbrushes. Some of us might have received our first custom toothbrush before we even appreciated the dental benefits it could provide. As kids, we might have picked out a toothbrush in our favorite color…

The human body is an extremely complex system of countless nerves, various tissues, and individual organs that need to work in unison to function properly. Your mouth is one of the finest examples of this natural wonder with the hard tissue—like the teeth and jaw—performing diligently alongside the soft tissue—like the gums, salivary glands, and…

Unfortunately, periodontitis is a risk most of us will contend with at least once in our lifetime. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 45% of adults over 30 are infected with some form of periodontal disease. So it is no wonder why dental health professionals are looking for means to treat this condition quickly, effectively, and most importantly, non-surgically. 

Why Non-Surgical Treatments?

Surgery is often seen as the peak of modern medicine, possibly due to the popularity of medical dramas. But it is important to note that when dealing with a disease that affects such a vast number of people, a “one size fits all” approach isn’t just impossible—it may even be irresponsible in some cases. 

This is why the success of the non-surgical gum disease treatments has been hailed as revolutionary in the field of dentistry.

In fact, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), treatment of periodontitis should be both cost effective and as least invasive as possible. This makes sense when considering cortisol (often referred to as the “stress hormone”) is a major factor in your gums’ inflammatory response when dealing with gum disease. To achieve both the goals of cost effectiveness and least invasive procedures, surgery is not prioritized. 

What Are the Non-Surgical Treatment Options?

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease or suffering from advanced stages of periodontitis, it is important that you meet with Dr. Hill and our hygiene team to learn all of your treatment options. However, there are two primary, non-invasive procedures recommended by the AAP that have proven to be the most successful. 

Scaling and Root Planing

If you are suffering from periodontitis, it is more than likely scaling and root planing will be recommended by your dentist. This is due to the incredible accuracy that the two step procedure provides.

1. The first step, known as scaling, will remove the plaque bacteria and tartar (also known as calculus) from the surface of your teeth as well as from underneath the gum line. To accomplish this, a variety of tools may be used, from an ultrasonic device that uses vibrations to shake unwanted material free and/or a traditional “scaler” which manually separates teeth from any harmful buildup.  
2. Following this step is the root planing. This process accesses any damage that may have occurred in the space between your tooth’s roots and gum line which aids in reattachment. Doing so will not only accelerate recovery, but can also save a tooth as its root surface system begins to function naturally once again. 
3. Many patients benefit from antibiotic therapy and follow-up examinations to document tooth, gum, and bone improvement. This is determined by Dr. Hill for each individual patient. 

Tray Delivery Systems

Should you be diagnosed with chronic periodontitis, scaling and root planing might not be the best course of action. The treatment for persistent gum disease may come in the form of a tray delivery system—a dental procedure so straightforward that both the AAP and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have marveled at it. 

Tray delivery systems are similar to the traditional dental trays that used fluoride which helped fight tooth decay. An impression of your mouth will be made (the tray), but instead of fluoride, medicine prescribed by your dentist will be used. The tray will make sure this medication reaches the most vulnerable spots of your mouth, eliminating gum disease at its source.   

Guard Your Gums With Our Help!

While it is encouraging to see how successful non-surgical procedures are when it comes to periodontitis, the best way to guard your gums is regular exams and routine dental cleanings! This will not only significantly lower your risk of gum disease but also allow dental professionals to monitor for any early warning signs like plaque buildup or inflammation. 

So, keep yourself safe and schedule your next consultation today. 

For anyone who has experienced the pain of an impacted tooth or suffered through the dental discomfort of a toothache, getting these issues resolved can make you feel like a million bucks. However, the real price tag when trying to understand the insurance cost and the dental cost terms can be challenging. Thankfully, there are…