Periodontal Disease

“Exceptional Care and a Beautiful Smile”

Treating Periodontal Disease

Treating periodontal disorders will depend on the severity of the problem. Dr. George Eifler and our dental hygienist will perform an evaluation to determine the appropriate treatment for your situation.

As the pockets or space between your gums and teeth become filled with plaque, bacteria, and tartar it will cause irritation to surrounding tissues. When left unchecked in these pockets and spaces cause damage to the gums and bone that supports your teeth.

When we catch gingivitis in the early stage, and little to no damage has been done, we may be able to reverse the trend with regular cleanings. Dr. Eifler and our dental hygienist will give you instructions for various home care habits to improve your daily oral hygiene. Regular dental cleanings are one key to dental success and to ensure you do not have periodontal disease.

When periodontal disease progresses to a more advanced stage, a deep cleaning (scaling and root planning) is the usual recommendation. This is a very important type of periodontal cleaning. We normally only perform this type of cleaning one quadrant at a time. During the scaling and root planning procedure, plaque, toxins and tartar are removed from above and below the gum line (scaling) and rough spots on root surfaces are made smooth (planing). The goal is to help your gum tissue heal and encourage your pockets to shrink. Dr. Eifler or your dental hygienist may recommend additional home care ideas, such as medicated mouth rinses, an electric tooth brush and certain medications. This process should help control infection and improve healing.

If a deep cleaning does not resolve your dental issues, we may suggest periodontal surgery. This is often the final step taken to reduce the pocket depths, which makes your teeth easier to clean. Dr. Eifler may recommend that you see a Periodontist specialist.

Contact Dr. George Eifler and AZ Valley Dental today: (602) 956-2260.