Treatment of Gum Disease

The American Academy of Periodontalogy guidelines for the treatment of periodontal or gum disease stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner.

At Rivertown Dental Associates our Dental Hygienists are also trained as Periodontal Therapists and will perform a procedure called Periodontal Therapy to treat your gum disease.

Often times referred to by the more technical terms of “scaling and root planing” we use high tech ultrasonic instruments to carefully clean the root surfaces and remove all the plaque and calculus [tartar] from the deep periodontal pockets. When we remove the tartar build up from teeth we also smooth surface and make sure no bacterial toxins remain.

Many patients require no anesthetic for this procedure however we recommend the use of topical gel anesthetic or localized placement of anesthetic material. We also offer nitrous oxide relaxation gas during the procedure. Ultimately, your personal preference for comfort is provided.

The final step in Periodontal Therapy is to irrigate the gum pockets with antibiotic solutions and a soothing warm water irrigation and massaging of the gum tissues. As a courtesy to our patients, we also clean and polish the enamel surfaces of your teeth so you leave with a sparkling smile once the procedure is completed.