Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Periodontal or gum disease is insidious. This infection of the gums starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria that attack the soft tissue around the gums. This is the early stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. Left untreated, gingivitis becomes periodontitis — which ultimately destroys the tissue surrounding your teeth and the bone that holds your teeth in place. Except for bad breath and gums that bleed, there are very few early warning signals. The disease advances silently, often without pain, and before you know it, you are losing your teeth and you don't know why.

Tooth loss is only the most obvious indicator of gum disease. Scientific research has discovered linkage between gum disease and stroke, heart disease, diabetes — even an increased risk for pregnant women. When your gums become diseased, your entire immune system is weakened.

In the past, fear of painful dental surgery has kept people with gum disease from seeking the care they needed. Well, those days are gone forever.

To learn more about the dangers of gum disease and how you can prevent it, or if you would like to make an appointment, please contact our office or call us directly at 770-889-5335

Scaling & Root Planing

Gingivitis is a generative disease that can cause significant tooth and gum deterioration if left untreated. Just the word gingivitis can strike panic in a patient’s mind. The reality is that the treatment is simple and performed by your A+Dentistry hygienist right in our office.

Plaque and tarter that sit on the teeth provides an environment where bacteria can thrive and multiply. These bacteria cause the gums to become inflamed and bleed. The condition becomes more noticeable when you brush your teeth or sometimes when you eat. These are signs of the early stage of Gingivitis. Fortunately, Gingivitis is easily treated by having a dental hygienist scale and polish your teeth. If Gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will progress and the roots will need planing. The difference between scaling and root planing is simple. Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth’s surface and root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure.

As non-surgical procedures, scaling and planing are performed without any anesthesia right in our dentist’s office. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of Gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area for complete comfort. Deep scaling and root planing is usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for adequate healing time and reduces the time for each appointment.

To learn more about scaling and root planing, any of our other periodontic services, or if you would like to make an appointment, please contact our office or call us directly at 770-889-5335.