Periodontal Therapy in Waterbury

At Waterbury Smiles, Dr. Marini, Dr. Mancini and their entire staff are not just dedicated to improving and enhancing your oral health. We’re also concerned about your overall health. Your mouth is part of a whole-body system. As such, we know that when we take of your teeth and gums we are also taking care of you. With this in mind, we pay close attention to the condition of your gums, because gum disease—also called periodontal disease—is a chronic bacterial infection that can threaten your overall well-being as well as your beautiful smile.

Let’s first examine how gum disease develops. Unfortunately, the most likely reason is poor oral hygiene. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease accumulate in plaque, that clear sticky film that naturally develops in our mouths. If not cleared away by brushing twice daily and flossing once a day—and flossing is especially important to rid plaque that builds between teeth—then bacteria can begin to infect your gums, connective tissue and even the bone that holds your teeth in place. If left untreated, gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss.

As if that weren’t bad enough, both gingivitis and periodontitis (the early and late stages of periodontal disease) have been linked to a number of bodily illnesses and diseases. One of the primary symptoms of gum disease is bleeding gum tissue. When this happens, bacteria can be released into the bloodstream. Once there, the bacteria can travel to other parts of the body. Some of the conditions associated with periodontal disease include:

• Heart disease and heart attack
• Stroke
• Pre-term childbirth and low infant birth weight
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Respiratory disease including pneumonia

Periodontal Therapy in Waterbury

In order to prevent the advance of gum disease, Waterbury periodontal therapy is critical. In some cases, gingivitis can be reversed by attentive oral hygiene at home. However, if the disease is not caught early enough, then non-surgical periodontal therapy from your Waterbury dentist may be necessary. This usually involves scaling and root planing. During scaling we remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) from above and below the gum line. This is followed by planing or smoothing the roots of your teeth to create a surface that is less receptive to plaque. If gum pockets have developed around your teeth, then we may apply a strong topical antibiotic to remove the infection and promote faster healing.

Call Our Office Today

If you are seeing signs of periodontal disease—red and swollen gums, bleeding gums, bad breath or loose teeth—then call Waterbury Smiles to schedule an appointment. We serve the communities of Waterbury, Watertown, Middlebury, Naguatuck, Woodbury and Southbury.