Periodontal Care
Florence, AL
 One of the leading contributors to dental health and overall wellbeing is periodontal care. Periodontal care comprises care of the structures "around the tooth", including the gums and the bones that support the tooth. This is something that we here at Singing River Dentistry believe should be taken very seriously. Periodontal disease is one of the leading reasons for tooth loss, and can also contribute to bad breath, as well as heart disease. This affliction is often recognized by swollen, painful, bleeding gums. Our team of educated professionals is eager to help you understand your periodontal health and the steps that you can take to improve and maintain it.
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Plaque and Calculus
The main contributor to periodontal disease, outside of prior health conditions and lifestyle choices, is plaque. Plaque is formed when deposits of food high in sugars and starches are left frequently on the teeth. The bacteria that reside in the mouth survive off of these deposits, and subsequently produce acids. The plaque (bacteria filled film) that is not removed from the teeth accumulates and becomes calculus (tartar). If these substances are left on the tooth, they release an acid like substance that then destroys the tooth enamel, gums and bone, resulting in decay. Our staff is trained to recognize periodontal disease that results from plaque buildup, as well as to treat and educate our patients diagnosed with it.
Secondary contributors to periodontal health status include lifestyle choices (such as smoking and reduced or ineffective daily dental hygiene), and health status (including but not limited to stress, diabetes, and prior infection). All of these topics are areas that we will discuss with you in relation to periodontal health. We are happy to work with you to develop a treatment plan that will set you up for success in your periodontal health.
Treatment Options
We recommend frequent oral hygiene checkups to assess for and treat any contributors of periodontal disease. It is during these visits that we can ascertain the severity of the disease, if there is any bone involvement, and work with you to explore your treatment options. We will also test for cancer through an oral cancer screening. Periodontal disease can be treated in several ways. Preventative maintenance is one of the easiest ways to ensure good oral health. This involves regular checkups, brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing (so as to clean in between the teeth, where food particles cannot be seen). In addition to these recommendations, our staff may recommend medications, mouthwashes or specialized toothbrushes.
Our team is educated and highly skilled in the provision of higher levels of periodontal care. These may include scaling, and root planing. Scaling is a specialized periodontal cleaning. This technique is often performed in only one portion of the mouth at a time, and may require the injection of a freezing agent. The teeth then have plaque and tartar removed, allowing the gum tissue to heal. Root planing can be performed concurrently to scaling by our staff, and involves smoothing rough spots found on the surfaces of the roots of the teeth. We offer laser dentistry for less painful and faster healing. If we do not have success in these areas, our care providers will work with you to discuss further options.
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Periodontal health is very important to us here at Singing River Dentistry. If you believe it is time to have a routine checkup, or if you are concerned you are at risk for periodontal disease, we encourage you to speak with us at 256-712-3549, so that our health professionals can help you with your oral health, and answer any questions you may have.
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