PERIODONTAL THERAPY
Professional Treatment for Gum Disease in Stoney Creek
Infection to the gum and bone that holds teeth in place is called periodontal disease or gum disease. Although it is often painless, this disease can seriously damage your gums and supporting bones. The good news is that periodontal disease can be treated in its early stages with scaling and root planing to better the health of your gums.
During your checkup at Portway Dental Centre in Stoney Creek, one of our Dentists will examine your gums for any periodontal problems. We use a periodontal probe to gently measure the depth of the space between your teeth and gums. We look at the edge of the gum line, searching for a very shallow, V-shaped groove (also called sulcus) between the tooth and gums that indicates healthy gums. Normal sulcus depth is about 3 millimetres or less. If you should have any periodontal disease, that sulcus groove forms into a deeper pocket and collects plaque and bacteria. Those pockets are very difficult to keep clean on your own.
If gum disease is diagnosed, Portway Dental Centre can offer treatment or refer you to a periodontist, who is a dentist that specializes in periodontal diseases. The treatment will depend on how far along the condition has progressed and how well your body responds to therapy.
