Services

Periodontal Services

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A dental specialist that deals with treating and preventing gum disease and implant treatment is called a periodontist. They will take care of anything relating to your gums; the most common reason why you would be referred to a periodontist is if you suffer from gum disease, but also if you are thinking about getting dental implants. Your general dentist will evaluate your dental health and if deemed necessary – he will then refer you to a periodontist.

A Periodontist is an expert in oral inflammation, mostly regarding the gums, but also offer other treatments relating to gum diseases such as scaling and root planning and gum surgery. Furthermore, they are specially trained in placing, maintaining and repairing dental implants.

Scaling and Root Planning

During a dental cleaning every six months, you might have noticed that the cleaning includes scaling, using a tool to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your gumline, and also treating your teeth to prevent bacteria to affect your teeth and gums. However, when there are symptoms of gum disease, such as inflammation and bleeding of your gums, you might need to have a different type of treatment called scaling and root planning.

These treatments take up about two visits to the dentists and require local anesthesia to allow our patients to have a comfortable experience during treatment. Your dentist will scale all plaque from your teeth and gum line by using a special "hook" tool that will go deep into your gum line; this will remove all bacterial toxins and all the buildup of plaque and tartar that have deposited on your teeth's surface. When there is inflammation and buildup of toxins, your gums create pockets within your gums that enlarge if not treated. Root planning will smooth out your root's surface and prevent bacteria from reattaching to your teeth and underneath your gum line. Having a smooth surface, which is done by root planning, will allow your gums to heal and reattach themselves better to the teeth and prevent those pockets from appearing again.

Gum Surgery

If you have been referred to a periodontist by your dentist, it is more than likely that you have a bacterial infection that is affecting your gum tissue which has caused your gums to be inflamed appearing puffy, red and often bleed. This treatment consists of reducing the pocket sizes that are formed when there is inflammation and infection of your gums and can range in depth.

Your dentist will evaluate your case and depending on how deep they are or the degree of periodontitis of the patient. The treatment consist of cutting up the gum tissue to separate it from the teeth and then conduct a thorough cleaning to clear any tartar, bacterial toxins and plaque buildup that has formed below the pockets. When the gum has been so inflamed that has grown over the teeth, meaning covering a large part of the base of the tooth, the dentist will cut through the gum and eliminate the extra tissue that has formed around your teeth. This treatment might also have your dentist reshape the gum tissue and give your teeth a better-looking shape.

After scaling and root planning and gum surgery, your dentist will let you know how to look after your teeth so your gums can heal properly. If you are suffering from gum disease and want to know more about these treatments, call us at (203) 248-0011 or visit our office at 1869 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden CT 06514 to make an appointment today!