Periodontal Treatments & Procedures

Periodontal Treatment

Periodontitis, also known as gum disease, is serious. Caused by bacteria that have accumulated on your teeth and gums, periodontitis infects the gums and bone and can cause permanent damage. However, this is avoidable. With early treatment and proper oral hygiene, we can stop the damage and prevent further issues.

Symptoms of Periodontitis

The first symptoms of periodontitis are usually hard to detect, which is one reason it’s so important for Cajon Dental to focus on our patients. Through consultation and education, we can spot potential issues before it’s too late.

Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is often the first noticeable symptom, as you may experience bleeding gums as you brush or floss. Some other possible symptoms:

Bad breath (halitosis)
Changes in the position of your teeth
Loose teeth
Receding gums
Red, tender, or swollen gums
Buildup of plaque or tartar
Pain when chewing
Tooth loss
Foul taste in your mouth
Inflammatory response throughout your body

If you think you have gum disease, call us right away. We want to treat periodontitis as soon as possible as it’s linked to an increased risk for:

Stroke
Heart disease
Diabetes
Respiratory disease
Preterm birth

Treating Periodontitis

When caught early, periodontitis can be stopped. Treatment is performed by Cajon Dental as we thoroughly clean the pockets around your teeth to protect your surrounding bone from damage.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatments

Scaling is an ultrasonic teeth cleaning above and below the gum line. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from deep pockets that regular cleaning may not reach.
Root Planing smoothes the root surface. When the surface is smooth, it’s harder for plaque, tartar and bacteria to stick to the root. Find more about scaling and root planing on our Dental Exam & Cleaning page.
Antibiotics either oral or topical, help control the bacterial infection.

At your follow-up appointment, we’ll make sure everything is progressing as it should be. In most cases, periodontal treatments are very successful.

Surgical Periodontal Treatments

Although non-surgical periodontal treatments are successful most of the time, there are surgical options available if necessary.

Flap surgery involves tiny incisions in your gums, lifting a section of gum tissue back to allow for more effective scaling or root planning.
Soft tissue grafts replace any gum tissue you’ve lost causing your gum line to shrink. Using a small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth or another source, soft tissue grafts reduce further gum loss.

Bone grafting is done when the bone surrounding your root has been destroyed. Bone grafting holds your tooth in place to help prevent tooth loss as well as promote regrowth of your natural bone.

Periodontal Disease FAQs

At Cajon Dental, we diagnose periodontal disease through this process:

We review your medical history to find any factors that might be related to your symptoms, such as smoking or certain medications.
We examine your mouth for tartar and plaque and test for easy bleeding.
We measure the pocket depth of your gums. We like to see the measurements between 1 and 3 millimeters. For information, see our Dental Cleaning & Exam page.
We take x-rays to check for bone loss.

Whether you go through non-surgical or surgical periodontal treatment, properly caring for your teeth afterward is absolutely vital. To avoid another bout of gum disease, you need to:

Brush and floss twice a day
Eat a healthy diet
Avoid tobacco use
Have a dental checkup and exam at least every six months

We’re Ready to Help You

At Cajon Dental, everything we do is centered on you, your health and your experience.