Periodontics

• Inhibits future gum damage
• Eliminates bacteria from underneath the gums
• Makes cleaning your teeth easier
• Modifies and reshapes the bones that support teeth

Gum disease occurs when infection damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the tooth. Without treatment, the bone around the teeth is slowly and progressively lost. Untreated gum disease will eventually lead to tooth loss. Bactrian plaque is the most common cause of periodontal disease.

In its early stages, gum disease can be treated with a thorough cleaning to remove build-up plaque and tartar, brushing twice a day to remove plaque, and flossing once a day to remove plaque. Advanced periodontitis may mean dental surgery is necessary, such as flap surgery. Flap surgery is performed to allow for more effective scaling and root planning, and requires that your dentist make tiny incisions in your gums, exposing the roots and allowing for a section of the gum tissue to be lifted back.

If periodontitis is not too advanced, a deep cleaning treatment might be sufficient to treat the problem. This less invasive procedure, which is more intensive than a regular dental cleaning, includes:

• Scaling: Scaling removes bacteria and tartar from the surface of your teeth and more importantly, beneath the gums. It can be performed using instruments, a laser, or an ultrasonic device.
• Root Planing: Root planning smooths the surfaces of the roots, discouraging further buildup of bacteria and tartar, and removes and bacterial byproducts that add to inflammation and delay healing or reattachment of the gum to the tooth surfaces.
• Antibiotics: Topical or oral antibiotics can help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of gels containing antibiotics in the space between your teeth and gums or into pockets after deep cleaning. However, oral antibiotics may be necessary to completely eliminate infection-causing bacteria.

Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a substance found and extracted from our own blood that is rich in platelets and white blood cells. Since it is made up entirely of our own cells, it is completely compatible with our own body. It possesses amazing natural healing properties to aid in healing and pain management.

The process involves extracting a small amount of the patient’s own blood, much like any standard blood test, and then harvesting the cells, proteins, growth factors and hormones that your body needs to heal. After the small sample is taken, the vile of blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the vile of blood at 3000 rpm for approximately 10 minutes. This spinning process forces the blood to separate into three layers; plasma at the top, red blood cells in the bottom, and fibrin clot in between. The PRF is then placed exactly where it is needed – to the surgical area. This will expedite healing and decrease the amount of discomfort following surgery.
PRF is just one way that SmileCode Dental is able to provide comprehensive and effective care to our patients. This revolutionary treatment can help promote accelerated healing and tissue regeneration after oral surgery. If you have any questions about PRF, or would like to schedule an appointment, please give SmileCode Dental a call today.