Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a serious infection that affects roughly 50% to 80% of U.S. adults. It is responsible for an array of symptoms, like bleeding and inflamed gums, persistent bad breath, and even tooth loss. It also increases the risk of certain health problems, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and pre-term birth. To protect your mouth and body from the complications of gum disease, we offer the solutions you need with periodontal therapy at our Lady’s Island office.
Periodontal Maintenance
Proper homecare and “perio maintenance” appointments are key to managing periodontal disease. Perio maintenance appointments differ from routine cleaning appointments because we continue to clean under the gums. We keep these type of appointments until affected areas show no continuing signs of gum disease or inflammation. Studies show 3-4 month recalls are key for managing active periodontal disease.
Scaling & Root Planing
If your case of periodontal disease has progressed past the initial stages and started to cause significant damage to your oral health, Dr. Covington may recommend an in-depth cleaning known as scaling and root planing. During this procedure, our team will remove dental plaque and tartar from your deepened gum pockets and under the gum line. We’ll also smooth the root surfaces of your teeth so that bacteria aren’t able to accumulate on rough areas as successfully.