To understand periodontal therapy you must first know what it is, how it works and what the desired end result is. Periodontal means "around the tooth". Periodontal treatment treats the gums in your mouth. While many people place emphasis on the teeth when it comes to oral health and oral hygiene, the roles that the gums play are vital and cannot be overlooked. Treatment of the gums is most often made necessary by the effects of gum disease, which, is also known as periodontal disease.

       Periodontal therapy includes a number of possible procedures. They are often used in conjunction with each other for best results. To understand the treatment you must first understand the disease. Gum disease is basically an infection of the gums, most often caused by plaque. Once this infection gets under the gums there are a number of common symptoms. It can cause swollen and bleeding gums, bad breath (halitosis) and eventually a receding gum line. This can cause teeth to loosen and eventually fall out if it is not treated in time.

       Periodontal therapy is not an instant fix. It takes time and work even with surgical procedures.  As a patient the most important thing you can do is pay attention to proper oral hygiene habits and remain dedicated to them. This is the best way of preventing problems with your oral health. Procedures to halt the advance and reverse the effets of gum disease include scaling and root planing, Proplylaxis, anti-biotic treatment, crown lengthening and periodontal pocket reduction. Periodontal surgery is not the first choice but if the effects are bad enough it is necessary.

       If you are interested in learning more about periodontal therapy and would like to discuss your options with a dentist consider visiting the Atlanta Dental Group PC. Our Atlanta dental team has over 45 years of combined experience serving Atlanta's dental needs. You are welcome to make a free dental consultation appointment with our Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428.