NISHAN HALIM DMD

Why Do I Need It? Periodontal disease or “gum” disease is caused by many contributing factors. Plaque and tartar are generally the primary cause and catalyst to the disease process. Plaque is always forming on your teeth. Oral hygiene practiced only at home without seeing a dental care professional past a six month period is often times a primary reason for producing a gingival infection. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory response that affects the soft and hard structures, such as gingiva and bone, that support the teeth. There are different stages of periodontal disease

that increase in severity and invasiveness of treatment as it progresses. The earliest stage, gingivitis, is described as the loss of attachment of gingiva from the tooth. Gingivitis can be marked by swollen, bleeding, red gums and sometimes bad breath. Bleeding gums is one of the most common symptoms and is the body's natural response to the presence of harmful bacteria. Gingivitis is reversible with proper treatment and maintenance. Periodontitis is not reversible and is described as the permanent loss of attached gingiva and bone surrounding the teeth. Your dental care practitioner measures and records the periodontal pockets around your teeth to determine the health of your gums. Below are images that illustrate what each stage of periodontal health may reflect.

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SCALING & ROOT PLANING

NISHAN HALIM DMD

Scaling and root planning, also known as a “deep cleaning”, is a procedure in which plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) is removed from the tooth structure above and below the gumline. This procedure is treatment planned for moderate to severe periodontitis measuring pocket depths of 5-9mm. Removal of this harmful bacteria results in reattachment of the gingival tissue to the tooth structure. The intended goal is to yield a more stable environment for the tooth by reducing the pocket size. Oral medicaments may also be used to fight off the bacteria such as oral antibiotics and/or antibiotic rinses for irrigation of the infected tissue. The gingival infection can be localized to a few teeth or can be generalized affecting the whole mouth. The area and severity of infection determines the amount of appointments required for treatment.

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What to expect:

Pre-treatment: Tobacco cessation during treatment is strongly advised to eliminate any deterrents to healing. Improved oral hygiene at home actually reduces inflammation and sensitivity during treatment. Topical anesthesia is recommended for pockets measuring 4-5mm. Pockets measuring 6-9mm require local anesthesia for treatment to be completed.

Post-treatment: There may be some irritation to the gum tissue when consuming spicy or acidic foods and beverages. Please avoid these common irritates if you feel any discomfort.

To relieve any discomfort we recommend OTC anti-inflammatories such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Home Care

To prevent reinfection or delayed healing we strongly encourage you to use any recommended medicaments or periodontal tools prescribed to you by your oral care practitioner. Interdental (in between teeth) and sub-gingival (below the gum) plaque removal is essential to not only your healing but your continued periodontal maintenance. Eat a balanced diet, and avoid using tobacco products to prevent delayed healing.

What changes will I notice? -sensitive teeth to temperature

-embrasure spacing (spacing in between teeth)

-food traps

-less bleeding

-more tooth structure

What is Scaling and Root Planning?

NISHAN HALIM DMD

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Tooth & Gums Tonic

Dental Herb Company’s Tooth & Gums tonic is ideal for your unique condition. Use the tonic daily to address the following areas of your oral health:

• Periodontal care

• Controlling gum inflammation and bleeding

• Laser gum surgery (LANAP®) and implants

• Restorative and cosmetic procedures

• Dry mouth and mouth sores

• Chronic halitosis

Why we recommend DHC:Reducing Oral Bacteria

The pure essential oils in Dental Herb Company products are powerful antimicrobials, providing maximum potency and long-lasting effectiveness to combat the harmful oral bacteria that lead to halitosis and periodontal disease.

Promoting Gingival Healing

Dental Herb Company products contain gotu kola and Echinacea – two powerful anti-inflammatory herbs shown to stimulate healing and repair damaged tissue. The pure essential oils of lavender and eucalyptus, well known for their soothing and healing properties, are key elements in the formulae.

Tools to Manage Gum Disease

Sonicare FlexCare

Soft, flexible sides made of rubber allow the bristles to conform to the unique shape of your teeth and gums to provide up to 4x more surface contact. The brush head’s flexibility helps the bristles gently track along the gumline and absorb excessive brushing pressure. Enhanced sweeping motion delivers a unique in-mouth feel and superior cleaning along the gumline and in hard-to-reach areas. Proven to remove 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrush in hard-to-reach

NISHAN HALIM DMD

Follow up and Continuing Care

Re-evaluation is also an important step in completing treatment. 4-6 weeks after the scaling and root planning a fine scale appointment should be completed. Plaque will accumulate within this period which will require lite removal along with the final polish and fluoride treatment. The dental care practitioner will also measure your gums to compare to the initial recordings.

Your fine scale appointment has been scheduled on ______________ . It is important to keep this follow-up visit to ensure pockets have not increased in depth and ensure that further treatment is not required. The frequency of hygiene visits for future appointments will be determined once gingival health is stable. The frequency can range from a 3 to 4 month recall depending on plaque accumulation and improvement of oral hygiene at home.

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