Dental Services - Periodontal Therapy in Bel Air, Maryland
Non-surgical periodontal therapy, also known as soft tissue management (STM), is an exciting and fairly recent development in high tech dentistry. Soft tissue management involves the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is characterized by tender and bleeding gums, loss of supporting bone around teeth, chronic bad breath, loose teeth, pus oozing from the gums when the gums are pressed on, and recession of the gumline around teeth. These problems result in an increase in periodontal pocket depth. Periodontal pockets are the spaces between the tooth root and the gum tissue and are commonly measured in millimeters of pocket depth to help gauge the severity of periodontal disease. Any pocket over 3 mm in depth is considered abnormal. Pockets deeper than 6 mm are usually considered severe while those in the 3-5 mm range are moderate pockets.
Historically, many patients with periodontal problems were either under treated by only having routine cleanings done or were referred to periodontists (gum specialists) for advanced treatment which often involved surgery on the gums. Unfortunately, many patients did not follow through with the treatment plans suggested by their periodontist and ended up doing nothing to actively treat their periodontal disease. By introduction of several new dental technologies, it is now possible to treat many periodontal problems non-surgically without the need for referral to a periodontist for more aggressive therapy. Ultra-high frequency piezoelectric periodontal scalers, advanced electric rotary plaque control devices (Rota-dent) for home use, and improved medications for treating gum disease have made soft tissue management programs a reality. Soft tissue management programs are typically far less expensive than conventional surgical periodontal treatment plans.
Of course, not all types of periodontal disease can be treated with soft tissue management, and there are times when referral to a periodontist is the only choice if the periodontal disease is to be adequately treated. Always remember that no one is going to cure your periodontal disease, however, there are ways to make your periodontal disease a more manageable condition with the hope of keeping your natural teeth indefinitely. If you think you may have periodontal disease or just have some questions about periodontal problems in general, be sure to ask your hygienist or dentist about it so they can explain fully what your situation is and make suggestions for appropriate treatment.
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