Periodontal Care and Treatment
Springfield, Oregon dentists Dr. Welch and Dr. Schilt provide individualized periodontal care and treatment with a gentle touch.
Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque, the yellowish film that sticks to your teeth along your gum line. Bacteria found in plaque irritates your gums, which may cause them to turn red, swell, and bleed easily. Prolonged irritation causes the gums to separate from the teeth, leading to the formation of spaces between the teeth and gums. If allowed to continue to colonize, the increased number of bacterial plaque develops into calculus and eventually leads to bone and tooth loss.
Periodontal disease is best prevented by thorough daily brushing and flossing of your teeth, along with regular routine visits to see your hygienist at McKenzie River Dental.
Periodontal Procedures:
Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontal disease. This method allows Dr. Welch and Dr. Schilt to provide a deeper cleaning between the compromised teeth and gums, possibly preventing progression of the disease as well as tooth loss.
Dental bone grafting may be recommended by Dr. Welch and Dr. Schilt at McKenzie River Dental if your jaw bone has deteriorated due to disease, trauma, or missing teeth. Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds the structure of the jaw, restoring both height and width and strengthening the jaw.
Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure to expose more surface area of a tooth by removing gum tissue or bone. Crown lengthening may be necessary if a tooth breaks off at the gum line, if there’s decay underneath a crown or filling, or if there is an abundance of gum and bone tissue already around teeth.