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Non-Surgical Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection that affects the teeth, gums, and bone that surrounds the teeth. If left untreated periodontal disease may eventually lead to tooth loss, as it is actually the primary reason adults lose their teeth. Periodontal disease causes spaces, or pockets, to form around your teeth. A pocket that is 4 mm or deeper may mean you have an infection. Root debridement therapy, or scaling and root planing, is the non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. This treatment is used to remove bacteria, toxins, and deposits from infected periodontal pockets. A local anesthetic is used to reduce discomfort. Then an ultrasonic scaler as well as hand instrumentation is used to clean beneath the gumline along the root surface of the tooth. This procedure allows the tissues to heal and the periodontal pockets to shrink. Your hygienist will recommend one or more appointments for treatment depending on the severity of your periodontal infection.
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