Periodontal Therapy – York, PA

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Simply put, periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue. In its earliest stage, known as gingivitis, its symptoms may be so mild that they remain unnoticed. Gingivitis does not cause any permanent tissue damage. However, if it is allowed to progress to periodontitis, the advanced form of the disease, an individual’s oral health may suffer greatly.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should seek a periodontal evaluation as soon as possible:

• Your gums are swollen, red, or sore
• You struggle with persistent bad breath
• You have noticeable gum recession
• Your teeth feel loose
• You are experiencing extra dental sensitivity

The Whole-Body Effects of Periodontal Disease

While periodontal disease may seem solely like an oral health problem, it is actually an overall health problem. Research has found a strong correlation between poor gum health and a number of serious conditions, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, preterm birth, and more. Such correlations may be due to the fact that the bacteria that causes gum disease can sneak into the main bloodstream and invade other bodily systems. It can also initiate an immune response that lessens your body’s ability to fight off other illnesses.

Fighting Periodontal Disease

When you visit Dr. Cyriac for your periodontal evaluation, he will carefully assess the state of your gums and make a treatment recommendation. If your gum disease is still pretty mild, you might be able to reverse it via some changes to your at-home oral hygiene routine; our team will coach you on what you need to do.

It is also possible that Dr. Cyriac will recommend that you undergo scaling and root planing. Essentially, this treatment is a deep cleaning of the mouth that aims to remove harmful bacteria and give the gums an opportunity to heal.

The Scaling and Root Planing Process

During your scaling and root planing appointment, our team will first ensure that you are comfortable. Then, the scaling part of your appointment will begin. We will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, both above and below the gumline. Then, we will smooth out the roots of your teeth so it is more difficult for bacteria to cling to them.

Dr. Cyriac uses a soft tissue laser to assist in gum treatments, which means that periodontal therapy in his office is much less invasive than at other practices. You can expect a quick recovery time.

Following your initial round of periodontal therapy, it is important that you continue to visit us for regular periodontal checkups.