What is Periodontal Treatment?

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a common problem among people of all ages. The good news is that it may be reversible in the early stages. While late-stage periodontitis is not reversible, Dr. Shepherd Frenchman offers several types of periodontal treatment in Bradenton, FL.

How Dr. Frenchman Determines the Severity of Your Periodontal Disease

If you have bleeding gums, gums pulling away from your teeth, inflamed gums, or another common sign of gum disease, please contact us for an appointment right away. Dr. Frenchman will inquire about your medical history and complete an exam. Smoking and/or taking certain medications that cause dry mouth can worsen symptoms, so be sure to let him know if these situations affect you.

During the examination part of your appointment, Dr. Frenchman looks for plaque and tartar buildup and checks to see if your gums are susceptible to easy bleeding. The next step is for him to determine the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums with a small handheld instrument called a dental probe. If the pockets measure more than four millimeters, you may have periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease. He also takes X-rays to see if you have any bone deterioration.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Dr. Frenchman takes a conservative approach to treating gum disease unless he feels immediate surgical intervention is necessary. Most patients take antibiotics and have deep cleaning performed, which includes two procedures known as scaling and root planing. We typically treat one-quarter of your mouth at a time to avoid causing you too much discomfort.

Surgical interventions may include soft tissue grafts, bone grafting, guided tissue regeneration, flap surgery, or tissue-stimulating proteins. We will explain each of these procedures in more detail during your consultation. Please contact us to set up periodontal treatment in Bradenton, FL.