Here in the United States, periodontal disease (also commonly referred to as gum disease) is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. This bacterial infection starts out on a small scale, causing symptoms like oral bleeding and puffy gum tissue. Untreated cases, though, will gradually grow at a surprising pace, eradicating your smile’s support system of healthy bone.
Dr. Pointer takes this threat to your wellbeing very seriously, and periodontal screenings are made a crucial part of every regular checkup. If we discover troubling signs, therapy options are available to combat the damage and bring back your oral health. We welcome you to contact us today if you’d like to schedule a visit here in Fort Worth, TX.
Scaling and root planing is an in-depth cleaning that targets accumulations of plaque underneath the gum line. Our team will also smooth the rough spots on the tooth root surfaces, which are prime targets for infectious bacteria to gather over time. By doing so, our goal is to help your smile recover from the harmful effects of periodontal disease. We will also likely recommend more frequent cleanings in the future and more effective oral hygiene techniques at home.
Lasers are the true future of not just dental treatment, but the world of medical surgery as well. This is never clearer than here at Dr. Pointer’s office. We use a state-of-the-art soft tissue laser to treat gum tissue affected by periodontal disease in a comfortable and minimally invasive fashion. The laser will eliminate infected areas in a precise fashion and encourage the growth of new tissue as well, minimizing common side-effects like bleeding and swelling. Patients can expect to recover quickly from this procedure.
Dr. Pointer may recommend antibiotic therapy as a supplement to the above two procedures in order to maximize their effectiveness. Despite our team’s best efforts, areas of harmful bacteria can escape treatment and linger in the mouth, threatening future flare-ups. By applying medication directly to the gum pockets, we can eliminate more of these leftovers and help patients successfully recover from periodontal disease.
