Lexington Family Dentistry

For people with active periodontal disease​

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All of us collect plaque on our teeth each day.  It only takes a few hours for that thick, sticky film to form.  If that film is not brushed off it will harden and becomes very difficult to remove.  This hardened plaque is referred to as calculus (or tartar) and cannot be brushed off.  Calculus is very irritating to your gums and causes them to be red, puffy, and easily bleed.

 

Calculus causes inflammation of your gums, and in some people that inflammation leads to destruction of the bone that supports your teeth.  This cycle of build up, inflammation, and bone loss is known as Periodontal Disease.

 

Periodontal Disease is a serious problem because bone that is lost will never grow back.  If too much bone is lost your teeth will become loose and may eventully fall out or need to be extracted.  Periodontal disease can be a fast process or a slow process depending on the person.

 

Scaling and root planing is a procedure done to remove the calculus that is leading to inflammation and bone loss.  Anesthetic is used so that the calculus can comfortably be removed from below the gums with an instrument that vibrates and rinses with water.   

 

After scaling and root planing, it is crucial to maintain good brushing and flossing habits at home.  It is also recommended that you see your dentist more frequently to monitor your healing.