Am I a Candidate for Periodontal Treatment?

The traditional treatment for advanced periodontitis is gum surgery to remove damaged tissue, but now many dentists like San Ramon, CA dentist Dr. Janice Kaeley, DDS, MSD are using non-surgical methods. You may be wondering if you're a candidate for non-surgical periodontal treatment and what this procedure entails. Start by learn more about periodontal disease, how it is resolved and the Gum Disease options that are available for restoring your smile.

Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease that eventually leads to tooth loss if it’s left untreated. Bacteria, plaque and tartar beneath the gum line eat away at the bone and cause the gums to separate from the teeth. In addition to the risk for tooth loss, this condition also causes bad breath, bleeding in the mouth and difficulty eating and drinking.

In its early stages, San Ramon, CA dentist Dr. Kaeley can sometimes reverse the effects of periodontitis by doing a deep cleaning or scaling and root planing. Removing the bad bacteria gives good tissue a chance to thrive again. But in advanced stages, invasive surgery of the gums is necessary to more thoroughly remove bad tissue.

Modern dental technology has made it so that patients who struggle with periodontal disease don’t always have to go through surgery. Periodontal laser treatment allows the dentist to eliminate bad bacteria and tissue using a laser tool instead of a knife. The laser specifically targets the diseased tissue and leaves the good tissue intact.