Periodontal Treatment in Queen Creek, AZ

Periodontitis is a very serious gum disease that can lead to tooth or jawbone loss if it’s not treated promptly and effectively. It evolves from gingivitis, which is caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar. An effective periodontal treatment is to thoroughly clean and gets rid of the plaque and tartar around the teeth before it causes more serious problems.

Warning Signs of Periodontitis

It’s critical that you learn the warning signs of gum disease so that it can be treated quickly at the first signs of it. The signs of gingivitis include bleeding gums when you brush your teeth and floss. You may think you’ve brushed too hard at first, but if your gums appear swollen and are tender, then it is probably gum disease.

Another early symptom of periodontitis is receding gums. If you notice that you’re starting to see the roots of your teeth, then you should go see one of our dentists at Alexander Family Dental to have your gums and teeth evaluated. If periodontitis or gingivitis is found, then our dentists in Queen Creek, AZ, can start the appropriate treatment right away.

Treating Periodontitis

The first treatment that dentists usually try is a deep cleaning, otherwise known as scaling and root planing. It is done to remove the plaque and tartar from teeth, especially along the roots that are starting to show as the gums recede from them. While plaque is easy to remove while brushing your teeth, tartar isn’t.

Tartar develops when plaque dries on the teeth, forming a hard substance that a toothbrush cannot remove. One of our dentists at Alexander Family Dental removes tartar with an instrument called a periodontal scaler. This manual instrument is a steel bar with a sharp hook at one end and a pick-like tip at the other.

One of our skilled dentists in Queen Creek, AZ, uses this instrument to remove tartar, and then they may prescribe antibiotics if you have infected teeth. As the area begins to heal, the gums will stop receding and start to tighten around the roots again. If you suspect gum disease, come see one of our dentists for a dental evaluation.