Next to tooth decay, one of the biggest oral concerns that we at Ron Nourian DDS deal with is gum disease. In advanced stages, periodontal disease can cause tooth loss and even impact underlying health conditions (like diabetes or heart disease, just to name a couple.)
So how is gum disease treated? In most cases, it involves scaling and root planing.
Sometimes called “deep cleanings,” periodontal scaling and root planing procedures are a therapeutic procedure that’s more aggressive than a preventive cleaning you have at a routine checkup. During the visit, the hygienist uses special tools to clean deep below the gumlines to remove calcified tartar buildup and plaque biofilm.
You may or may not need to have your mouth numbed during this process. A lot of it depends on your comfort level and extent of disease.
Depending on the severity of your oral infection, our Sherman Oaks dentist may also need to place local antibiotics in the gum pockets or prescribe a special mouthrinse.
Following your deep cleaning, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene to limit how much plaque and tartar build up in the gum pockets again. For most of our patients, Dr. Nourian recommends scheduling a periodontal maintenance appointment at least every three months. This allows you to control the oral infection and help prevent it from returning.
If it’s been years since your last cleaning, or you’re exhibiting any of the following symptoms, then you likely need to have a scaling and root planing:
Contact Ron Nourian DDS today (818) 986-7531 to schedule an exam and x-rays to see if you need a deep cleaning to get control over your smile again or visit www.RonNourianDDS.com for further information.