Periodontal Treatment:

Drs. Craddock and Godat provide a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments for periodontal disease.

Pockets Determine the Type of Periodontal Treatment:

In general, pockets less than 5 mm are treated with non-surgical treatment and pockets greater than 5 mm are treated with conventional surgical treatment or a laser. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are very conservative in our treatment recommendations and limit surgery to the areas where it is absolutely necessary.

After a careful periodontal exam to evaluate the Indicators of periodontal Infection, you Will be Diagnosed with the Severity of Your Periodontal Infection. From the severity, a course of treatment will be planned to solve your periodontal and other dental problems.

If needed sedation can be used to keep you comfortable and relaxed.

Benefits of Periodontal Treatment : What are the benefits of periodontal treatment?

• Eliminate/ Control Your Infection
• ReGrow Destroyed Bone Tissue
• Easier to Clean (A toothbrush can only reach 3 mm below the gum line.)
• Retain Your Teeth & Smile
• Studies Suggest There is a systemic link between Periodontal Disease and General Health (link Perio Systemic link). Periodontal Treatment May Help to Reduce Your Risk of other diseases such as a Heart Attack, Stroke, Diabetes, Pre-Term Low Birth Weight, Cancer, etc.

Below is a general guideline for treatment of periodontal disease.

Will I Need Surgery?

Not everyone needs periodontal surgery! If treated early, gum disease can be controlled without surgery. We will make recommendations based on your individual situation. Our philosophy of practice is to treat as conservatively as possible to obtain your treatment goals. If you need surgery, the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) may be utilized. Most patients find this procedure is easier than conventional periodontal surgery.

Can My Teeth Be Saved?

Advances in periodontal treatment allow us to successfully treat most teeth. Treatment increases your changes of keeping your natural teeth and smile. This is especially true with the advent of laser treatment for periodontal disease.

Can my periodontal infection reoccur?

Yes, your periodontal infection can reoccur, and you may not be aware of it. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to maintain good oral hygiene and to have your teeth & gums cleaned on a regular basis by your dentist or periodontist. This allows us to monitor your disease and hopefully prevent disease recurrence. Some patients require retreatment; however, with frequent recalls (link importance of recalls- NOT SURE WHERE TO LINK WITH THIS?), studies have shown most patients can keep most of their teeth for 10 to 20 years or more.

In fact, a recent study in our office found patients who followed our suggested recall schedule only lost one tooth over 15 years or more.

What If I Don't Have Gum Treatment? (Consequences of no treatment)

Periodontal disease is a progressive (chronic), painless infection. If untreated, your periodontal infection can spread to other teeth and destroy more bone and gum tissue around your teeth. As more bone loss occurs, it is more difficult to treat the disease. The longer you wait the more likely you will need surgery. Thankfully today we can treat most severe situations with the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP). Eventually, you may experience a painful periodontal abscess or lose your teeth.

Additionally, delaying treatment can result in further bone loss, more tooth loss, and more expense. As teeth are lost, more bone loss occurs and can result in a sucken in look to the face. Replacement teeth may need to be anchored by dental implants. Dental implants also help to prevent bone loss.

Periodontal disease may also put you at increased risk for other systemic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.) . If your teeth are lost, dentures are never as effective as your own teeth. Dental implants may be necessary to anchor your dentures solidly in place.

When Will I Go Back To My General Dentist?

Our office and your dentist will work closely together. If crowns and fillings are needed your dentist will provide them. Regular visits to your dentist are an important part of periodontal maintenance (link to perio maintenance - NOT SURE WHERE TO LINK WITH THIS?). If you have had periodontal disease treatment in our office, we usually begin an alternating periodontal cleaning schedule with your general dentist after two to three cleanings and a re-evaluation (periodic oral evaluation) in our office (link to perio maintenance - NOT SURE WHERE TO LINK WITH THIS?)