Periodontal Therapy at Dothan Cosmetic Dentistry

Periodontal therapy is not something that many people are familiar with, but it helps our practice control and eliminate the most common dental problem in the world: gum disease (otherwise known as periodontal disease). This infection can cause gum recession, tooth loss, and even increase a person’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes over time. If we spot any signs of gum disease during your regular appointment, we’ll use our periodontal treatments to quickly take care of it and keep you protected. You can learn more about them below.

Scaling & Root Planing
Think of scaling and root planing as a dental cleaning that is specifically focused on your gums. Using an ultrasonic cleaner, we’ll first remove any plaque and tartar that is built up around your gum line (scaling), and then we’ll gently reshape the roots of your teeth. Why? Because this will make plaque less likely to gather on them in the future, significantly lowering your chances of redeveloping gum disease.

Soft Tissue Laser
For more advanced cases of gum disease, we will do something extremely cool: using our soft tissue laser. The Waterlase combines an extremely concentrated beam of light with a steady stream of water to quickly vaporize bacteria located under the gum line as well as painlessly remove infected tissue. The laser sterilizes the area as it goes and cauterizes blood vessels as well, ensuring that treatment will go faster and any healing time will be shorter.

Antibiotic Therapy
After your initial periodontal treatment, our team may choose to use antibiotics to help you fight the infection even after you have left our office. This will come in the form of either a topical antibiotic that we apply directly to your gums or a pill you will take at home. Regardless, in order to make sure the infection doesn’t come back, you’ll be advised to come see us for regular follow-up visits in which we’ll check/clean your gums to keep them nice and healthy.

Cosmetic Dentistry
& Much, Much More

Whether you’re seeking a stunning smile makeover or restorative assistance after injuring a tooth, Dr. Gaunt can lend a helping hand. Our practice is home to a wide variety of services that cover simple and complex needs alike! We take a cosmetic approach to everything we do as well, ensuring that our patients’ results both look and feel natural.