Frequently Asked Questions…

What is "GUM DISEASE"?
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What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gum tissues and bones that surround and support your teeth. Periodontal (gum) disease is not curable - but it is controllable.

How do I know if I have Gum Disease?

First, Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? Second, do you have bad breath? Otherwise, gum disease is painless and only gets worse over time as the bacteria eat away the bone and gums and other supporting tissues that hold the teeth in place.

What does Perry Dental Solutions do to determine if my gums are health or unhealthy?

Our Hygienists and Dentists do specific test to measure healthy gums vs. diseased gums. We use a measuring device called a probe to measure the height of the gums around the teeth, which is called a pocket. Healthy gums have pockets no deeper than 3mm with little or no bleeding. Diseased gums (gums infected by bacteria) have pockets deeper than 3mm, which bleed, smell bad, and are painful, red and swollen. We, also, quantify the amount of plaque, both soft and hardened, in your mouth

What happens if my gums are infected?

If you are diagnosed with gum (periodontal) disease with pockets deeper than 3 mm with bleeding, we will recommend a treatment program to eliminate the bacteria and a maintenance program to prevent the infection and disease from returning. The severity of you gum disease determines the length of your program. Our goal is to eliminate the bacterial infection in your gums, stop the bleeding and mouth odor, as well as reduce pocket depths to help prevent a bacterial re-infection. Remember: Healthy gums never bleed!

What is the treatment program to eliminate the bacterial disease in my gums?

Gum treatment or Periodontal Therapy is a "conservative" (non surgical) treatment program consisting of a series of 2 to 6 visits, based on your individual needs, to remove the bacteria, the plaque and all other infected material from below the gum line. The treatments consist of:

Ultrasonic scaling, which removes the plaque, tartar, stains, and bacterial toxins on teeth below the gum line using high frequency vibration;
Hand scaling and root planning which smoothes the tooth and root surface,
Curettage treatment which removes the diseased gum tissue, and
Irrigation of the pockets with antibiotics.

Depending on the severity of disease, we may recommend oral antibiotics, fluoride treatments, and antibacterial rinses. In addition, a home-care regimen of tooth brushing and flossing is required in conjunction with other home-care devices. Further, an electric toothbrush called a Rotodent, may be required to help you keep your gums and mouth healthy.

Why do I need an Electric Toothbrush?

Regular tooth brushes no matter how hard the brush is or how much you brush only reach a limited amount of areas. The bristles never do down below the gum line by more than 2mm and due to the size of the brush head, the bristle never really reach in between the teeth. The Rotodent Toothbrush is designed to do all that the regular brush cannot. The brush rotates in a circular motion, just like the devices we use in the dental office. The bristles are designed to flare out which enables them to reach down below the gum line as deep as 4mm and they are able to get in between your teeth with ease. The Rotodent makes you brush each tooth, individually, thus increasing the effective removal of plaque, tartar and bacteria - the sources of gum infection.

What is the maintenance program?

After the initial treatment program, your hygienist will see you for gum (periodontal) maintenance visits. These visits are more in-depth than a simple check-up and are designed to evaluate the success of your initial treatment program and your home care program. You will have up to 4 visits per year, based on your particular needs. At each visit your hygienist will measure the pocket depths, amount of bleeding, and amount of plaque in your mouth and around your teeth. This is done to determine if the bacterial infection has returned. Every thing depends on you and how well you take care of your mouth at home. If we find the bacteria has re-infected your mouth we will provide specific treatment to eliminate the infection. However, we believe you are responsible for the care of your mouth on a daily basis to keep your mouth clean and healthy. How well you follow our home care program to prevent the bacteria from re-infecting your gums will determine the health of your mouth.

What is occurring in my mouth after the initial treatment program?

The hygienist manually removes the plaque, the bacteria and the infected tissues. You then must keep your mouth clean following the home care program because of several healing factors. It takes six months to one year before the new gum attachment fibers become mature and more resistant to bacterial re-infection. Therefore, it is most important for you to follow the home care program and attend your maintenance visits with your hygienist so that your mouth and gums can be monitored and maintained. As your mouth continues healing, the interval between maintenance appointments will be evaluated according to your individual progress and the rate of plaque formation.

I am afraid this treatment will hurt?

We want your Periodontal Therapy to be a pleasant, comfortable, healthy and personally rewarding experience. For your comfort, topical anesthetic and local anesthetic are routinely used. As always, nitrous oxide, oral Valium and tranquilizers are available for your relaxation.

What is in it for me?

Your personal home care is the most important factor in the continued success of your treatment and the prevention of a bacterial re-infection of your gums. Your gums and bones are the foundation for your teeth. If you want to keep your teeth, they must have a strong and stable foundation. We will do our best to assist you in anyway necessary to help you have healthy tissues surrounding your tooth for a lifetime.