Periodontal (Gum) Care Stuart FL

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47.2% of adults in the U.S. ages 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease – and the problem increases with age. Gum disease affects 70.1% of adults ages 65 and older.

The primary goal of all types of periodontal treatment is to arrest the progress of gum disease. That involves killing bacteria, removing infection, and closing pockets in the gums.

Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) is the first step in treating gum disease. It is a therapy performed by scraping and removing the plaque from the tooth and root areas. Then make smooth any roughness around the roots to stop bacteria from collecting again. SRP may take more than one visit if required. Dentists may use a local anesthetic to avoid any discomfort. Following the SRP procedure, the gums will heal and reattach themselves to the fresh, clean surfaces of the tooth. In a couple of weeks, your dentist will assess your recovery and decide if additional treatment is essential.

Dr. Riggs can use her dental laser to gently cleanse the deeper pockets and help kill the bacteria that may be present allowing more conservative gum treatment that is non-surgical and the healing time is much quicker! It provides a new way to accomplish these goals that is less invasive, more comfortable, and may enhance the ability of the body to repair damage caused by infection.