Periodontal Therapy
Current periodontal therapy is very successful and comfortable. Dr. Shimizu practices the most up-to-date techniques in periodontal therapy to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. He offers a full range of gum-related therapies both surgical & non-surgical, implants and maintenance.
Laser Therapy:
One significant difference in our office regarding the treatment of periodontal disease is our use of the soft-tissue laser. A gum pocket is composed of the tooth root on one side and the inner gum lining on the other. The root can be detoxified very efficiently with periodontal scalers and the use of ultrasonics. However, removing diseased tissue from the inner gum pocket, called curettage, was more difficult with the limited effectiveness of hand instruments. The advent of the laser has greatly improved our ability to achieve this, and has resulted in greatly reducing the number of patients needing periodontal surgery. Our certified hygienists have been using the diode laser since 1997 – ask any of them how the laser might improve your situation.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Non-surgical therapy removes plaque and calculus by controlling the growth of harmful bacteria and by treating conditions that encourage gum disease. This type of treatment may be all that's needed, especially when periodontal disease is caught early. You may also need to have certain procedures, such as replacing worn fillings or crowns with overhanging margins that can accumulate plaque, taken care of before periodontal therapy can begin.
Scaling and Root Planing:
Scaling is a type of cleaning that removes plaque and calculus from the teeth at and slightly below the gumline. Root planing smoothes root surfaces, so the supportive tissues can better reattach to the tooth surface. Often, this will be done with local anesthesia so you can relax and feel nothing as we rehabilitate your gums.
Antibiotics:
Periodontal disease is a bacterial disease and the key to controlling or eliminating it is the effective reduction or elimination of the harmful bacteria. An adjunctive option to scaling and root planing may be provided in either pill form or applied directly to the infected area (gum pocket) in the form of antibiotic powder. An antibacterial mouth rinse also may be prescribed to help control the harmful effects of and reduce bacterial plaque.
For Better Dental Health
Periodontitis, will progress if untreated or inadequately treated. The goals of the treatment are to control the cause and the risk factors.
Clean, healthy gums are especially important for your general health in light of recent research exposing the link between dental plaque and atherosclerosis, diabetes, pre-term birth problems, heart conditions, and stroke.
Occlusal Adjustment:
An improper bite or a traumatic occlusion may increase bone destruction attached to such offending teeth. We may either choose to adjust your bite so that your teeth meet properly and function better or construct a custom bite guard or splint- a removable device that fits over upper or lower teeth - to protect teeth surfaces and relax tense jaw muscles.
