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About the proposed treatment
Non-surgical periodontal treatment involves thoroughly cleaning your teeth in the office to help heal inflamed or infected gum tissue. Treatment involves removing the bacterial substance known as plaque and harder mineral deposits called calculus from tooth surfaces above and below the gumline (this is called scaling). It may also involve smoothing the roots of your teeth (called root planing). Your condition will be monitored through regular examinations of your teeth and gums and measurement of the pockets that have formed in the gums surrounding your teeth.
Dental x-rays will be taken to check the condition of the roots of your teeth and the bone that supports your teeth. You may also receive medications or a special mouth rinse to help control the growth of bacteria that accumulate around your teeth and cause inflammation and infection of gum tissues.
You will also be taught a proper methods for caring for your teeth at home. The success of this treatment depends in part on your efforts to brush and floss daily, receive regular cleaning as directed, follow a healthy diet, avoid tobacco products and follow other recommendations.
Benefits and alternatives:
Regular, professional cleanings help to create a clean environment in which your gums can heal. They also reduce the chances of further irritation and infection by making it easier for you to keep your teeth clean. Depending on the success of these treatments, surgical methods may also be prescribed to help control gum disease.
Depending on the seriousness of your current condition, existing medical problems or medications you may be taking, these methods alone may not completely reverse the effects of gum disease or prevent further problems in the future.
Common risks:
1. Bleeding, swelling, soreness and infection: During and shortly after treatment, your gums may bleed, swell or feel sore, which may be treated with pain medication. Because cleanings involve contact with bacteria and infected tissue in your mouth, you may also experience an infection, which would be treated with antibiotics.
2. Reaction to anesthesia and/or sedation: To keep you comfortable while your tooth is being prepared, you will receive a local anesthetic and possibly a sedative (tranquilizer). In rare instances patients have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic , which may require emergency medical attention, or find that it reduces their ability to control swallowing, which increases the chance of swallowing foreign objects during treatment. Sedatives may temporarily make you drowsy or reduce your coordination.
3. Hot and cold sensitivity: As your gum tissues heal, they may shrink somewhat, exposing some of the root surface, This could make your teeth more sensitive to hot or cold.
4. Stiff or sore jaw joint: Holding your mouth open during treatment may temporarily leave your jaw feeling stiff and sore and may make it difficult for you to open your mouth wide for several days afterwards. Treatment may leave the corners of your mouth red or cracked for several days.
Consequences of not performing treatment:
This course of treatment will help to improve your condition and prevent this disease from spreading. If you receive no treatment or ongoing treatment were interrupted or discontinued, your condition would continue and probably worsen. This could lead to further inflammation and infection of gum tissues, tooth decay above and below the gumline, deterioration of bone surrounding the tooth and eventually, the loss of teeth. |
