Periodontal CareIn Olney
Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. Periodontal care focuses on preventing, identifying, and managing gum disease before it can cause lasting damage to the tissues and bone supporting your teeth. At Lagos Dental Centre, we take a proactive, personalized approach to gum health, combining thorough screenings, targeted treatment, and ongoing maintenance to help protect your smile for the long term.
Why should I prioritize my gum health?
Gum disease can develop gradually, and in its earliest stages, you may not realize anything is wrong. Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, tenderness, gum recession, and loose teeth can all be signs that the tissues supporting your smile need attention.
Periodontal care allows us to identify these changes early and intervene before the disease progresses. With the right combination of professional treatment and consistent maintenance, we can help control harmful bacteria, protect the bone surrounding your teeth, and give you a stronger foundation for lifelong oral health.
Personalized periodontal care, from diagnosis to maintenance.
No two cases of gum disease are exactly alike. Dr. Nwanya evaluates the health of your gums, identifies the factors contributing to inflammation or infection, and builds a treatment plan around what your smile actually needs. From early detection to deeper cleanings and ongoing maintenance, your periodontal care stays connected every step of the way.
Screen
Treat
Maintain
Salivary Diagnosis Tests
Your saliva can provide valuable information about what may be happening beneath the surface. Salivary diagnostic testing may be used to evaluate specific bacteria or other biological markers associated with periodontal disease. These insights can help us better understand your individual risk factors and make your periodontal treatment plan more targeted and personalized.
Localized Antibiotic Therapy
Some areas of periodontal infection may benefit from additional targeted treatment. Localized antibiotic therapy allows medication to be placed directly into specific periodontal pockets where bacteria are concentrated. When appropriate, this can be used alongside scaling and root planing or periodontal maintenance to help control infection in areas that need additional support.
Periodontal Maintenance Therapy
Treating gum disease is only the beginning. Periodontal maintenance is ongoing professional care designed to help keep the condition under control and reduce the risk of recurrence. These visits typically include careful cleaning above and below the gumline, evaluation of periodontal pockets, and continued monitoring of your gum health so we can respond quickly if anything begins to change.
Scaling & Root Planing
When plaque and tartar extend below the gumline, a standard dental cleaning may no longer be enough. Scaling and root planing is a deeper cleaning designed to remove bacterial buildup from beneath the gums and smooth the surfaces of the tooth roots. This helps create a healthier environment for the gums to heal and reattach more closely around the teeth.
Periodontal Disease Screening
Gum disease does not always cause noticeable symptoms in its earliest stages, which makes routine screening an important part of protecting your oral health. We evaluate your gums for signs of inflammation, bleeding, recession, periodontal pockets, and changes in the supporting structures around your teeth. Identifying concerns early allows us to recommend care before they have the opportunity to progress.
The Benefits of Periodontal Care
Protect Your Natural Teeth
Managing gum disease helps protect the bone and tissue that hold your teeth securely in place, reducing the risk of progressive periodontal damage and eventual tooth loss.
Reduce Inflammation
Professional periodontal treatment removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from areas that are difficult to reach at home, helping create a healthier environment around the gums.
Stay Ahead of Changes
Routine periodontal screenings and maintenance allow us to monitor your gum health over time, identify changes early, and adjust your care before smaller concerns become more advanced.
The Periodontal Treatment Process
Comprehensive Evaluation
Comprehensive Evaluation
Your care begins with a detailed assessment of your gums and supporting tissues. We look for inflammation, bleeding, recession, periodontal pocketing, and other signs of disease to understand your gum health and determine the right treatment approach.
Targeted Treatment
Targeted Treatment
If periodontal disease is present, scaling and root planing may be recommended to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline. Depending on your needs, localized antibiotics or salivary diagnostic testing may also be incorporated for more targeted care.
Ongoing Maintenance
Ongoing Maintenance
Once active treatment is complete, periodontal maintenance helps keep bacteria under control and allows us to closely monitor your gum health over time. We will recommend a maintenance schedule based on your individual needs and how your gums respond to treatment.
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
Common signs can include red or swollen gums, bleeding when brushing or flossing, persistent bad breath, gum recession, tenderness, changes in your bite, or teeth that begin to feel loose. However, periodontal disease can also develop without obvious symptoms, which is why routine screenings are important.
A regular cleaning primarily removes plaque and tartar from above the gumline and is intended for patients with generally healthy gums. Scaling and root planing goes deeper beneath the gumline to remove buildup and bacteria from periodontal pockets and the surfaces of the tooth roots.
The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis, can often improve significantly with professional care and consistent home hygiene. Once periodontal disease has caused damage to the supporting bone and tissues, that damage may not be fully reversible, but treatment can help control the disease and prevent further progression.
Your maintenance schedule depends on your individual periodontal health and risk factors. Patients with a history of gum disease may need professional cleanings more frequently than someone receiving routine preventive care. We will recommend a schedule based on how your gums respond to treatment.
Localized antibiotic therapy places medication directly into periodontal pockets where harmful bacteria are concentrated. It may be recommended as an additional treatment in certain areas that need more targeted support.
Salivary testing can provide additional information about bacteria or biological markers associated with periodontal disease. When appropriate, these results can help us better understand your individual risk profile and personalize your treatment approach.
