The symptoms of periodontal disease are easy to spot—even at home. They include bleeding of the gums when you brush, tenderness, really bad-smelling breath and pockets around the teeth. Periodontal therapy may be required to get your gums back to good health once you’re officially diagnosed by a dentist with periodontal disease. Find out about the various periodontal procedures available at Mapledale Family Dentistry in Woodbridge, VA.

What Is Periodontal Therapy?
Any treatment aimed at reducing the symptoms of periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is considered a periodontal therapy. Periodontitis is caused by a bacterial infection that spreads throughout the gums and threatens the integrity of the teeth. There are a few different ways your dentist can remove the bad bacteria and diseased tissue to promote healing of the gums. After periodontal therapy, healthy gum and bone tissue have a chance to successfully heal.

Scaling and Root Planing
In the early stages of gum disease, one of the first therapies your dentist will likely use is scaling and root planing. This is the process of deep cleaning around the base of each affected tooth to remove the hard tartar and bad bacteria that may be irritating the gums. This treatment is a step up from a basic professional dental cleaning and may require some sedation.

Crown Lengthening
With crown lengthening surgery, your Woodbridge dentist lowers a problem tooth so that it sits in a better position in relation to the gum line. This allows your dentist to restore the tooth with a crown to keep it strong. This may also make it easier for the gums to reattach and heal over the tooth naturally after other periodontal treatments.

Get Immediate Therapy for Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis does not get better on its own—even with more regular brushing. You must see a dentist immediately for periodontal therapy to reverse the symptoms. Call (703) 580-9900 today to schedule an appointment with a Woodbridge, VA, dentist who specializes in periodontics at Mapledale Family Dentistry.