Periodontal Disease Treatment – West Lake Hills, TX
Create a Healthy Foundation for Your Smile
While many people assume that dentists largely focus on the teeth within your smile, we’re just as much concerned about your gum health as well. Not only are the gums incredibly important for a long-lasting smile, but gum disease is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. We want to do our part to prevent gum disease from developing in the first place, which is why we offer periodontal disease treatment in West Lake Hills, TX to help get your oral health back on track.
Why Choose Westlake Hills Dental Arts for Periodontal Disease Treatment?
- Friendly Dentist in a Modern and Relaxing Dental Office
- Dedicated Antibiotic Therapy to Promote Healing
- Intraoral Cameras Improve Patient Engagement
Scaling & Root Planing
While the early stage of gum disease called gingivitis can usually be reversed with improved oral hygiene habits, advanced cases will require more intensive treatments such as scaling and root planing. This treatment, also known as deep cleaning, is used to remove infectious material from along and below the gumline and encourage the roots of the teeth to reintegrate with the soft tissues. Here’s a quick look at what this treatment can address, who may need it, and how the procedure works, but please feel free to contact the staff at Westlake Hills Dental Arts if you have any questions.
Do You Need Scaling & Root Planing?
You may need scaling and root planing if you experience symptoms of advanced gum disease such as:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Gum recession
- Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
- Visible accumulations of plaque
- Swollen or puffy gums
Cases of gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, can often be reversed with improved oral habits, but scaling and root planing may be necessary to manage advanced infections.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
The process of scaling and root planing can be broken into two phases that are usually scheduled for separate appointments, those being:
- Scaling: Long will use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth, the gumline, and the pockets of the gums.
- Root planing: Long will remove hardened bacterial deposits from the roots of the teeth, which helps them reintegrate with the soft tissues.
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing can be an intensive process, so you may need a few weeks to recover completely. During this period, you may experience sensitivity and discomfort, and you can help your healing process stay speedy and complication-free by adhering to the following guidelines:
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to reduce irritation and loosen food debris. Make saltwater by mixing a quarter teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of water.
- Be gentle when brushing and flossing. Be sure to clean your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush using short, gentle, circular strokes.
- Refrain from foods and beverages that are hot, spicy, acidic or alcoholic.
- Abstain from tobacco use.
- Stick to a soft diet for at least forty-eight hours after treatment.
- Take a break from intense physical activity for the first few days after treatment to avoid stressing the healing tissues.
Antibiotic Treatment
Gum disease, especially at later stages, can be stubborn and difficult to manage. That’s why our team sometimes recommends antibiotics as a part of your personalized gum disease treatment in Austin. This solution places medication directly where infection hides, helping your gums heal more completely between deep cleaning visits. When combined with other periodontal therapies, antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce bacteria, inflammation, and your risk of reinfection.
What Is Antibiotic Treatment?
For antibiotic treatment, our team gently applies a special medicated gel into the deep pockets between your teeth and gums. These (periodontal) pockets develop when infection causes your gums to pull away from your teeth. Over several days, the antibiotic slowly releases and dissolves, reducing the bacteria that cause gum disease and supporting your body’s natural healing process between visits.
Why Combine Antibiotic Treatment with Scaling & Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing are the foundation of non-surgical gum disease treatment, but they’re just the beginning, especially in advanced cases. While the process leaves your teeth and gums healthy and ready to heal, even the most thorough cleaning may leave hard-to-reach or hidden bacteria behind.
By adding a localized antibiotic as an extra precaution, we greatly reduce the likelihood of a reinfection as your gums heal. The medication continues working for days after your appointment, supporting the results of scaling and root planing and improving the chances that your periodontal pockets will shrink. Put simply, antibiotic treatment is an extra step that helps ensure success.
Benefits of Antibiotic Treatment
When paired with scaling and root planing, antibiotic treatment offers several important benefits for patients receiving gum disease treatment:
- The gel targets bacteria exactly where infection is most active.
- It supports faster, more predictable healing of irritated gums.
- Antibiotics help reduce pocket depth and bleeding over time.
- It lowers the risk of reinfection between periodontal visits.
- It may reduce the need for more invasive treatment.
Antibiotic treatment can be a huge asset in restoring the health, comfort, and stability of your smile. If you’re struggling with gum disease and need a little extra help, contact us. Our team is here to guide you through treatment one step at a time.