Periodontal Therapy - Torrance, CA

Gum Disease Facts

Did you know that 75% of Americans over the age of 35 suffer from gum disease, or periodontitis? This condition has been linked to serious heart problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. It’s also known to affect and be affected by blood glucose levels, meaning gum disease sufferers may be more likely to have diabetes, too.

Signs you may be dealing with gum disease include:

• Red, swollen, and bleeding gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Gum recession

Dr. Galvan provides gum disease therapy in Torrance. In its early stages, gum disease can be reversed with increased at-home care and extra visits to the dentist. For more moderate forms of the condition, nonsurgical treatment includes scaling and root planing, or a deep cleaning to remove tartar and bacteria buildup above and below the gum line. In gum disease’s most severe form, surgical treatment may be required. This all may be combined with antibiotics, too.

Scaling & Root Planing

Think of this as a dental cleaning that is specifically focused on the gums and roots of the teeth. First, an ultrasonic cleaner will be used to remove any plaque and tartar that has built up around the gum line (scaling), and then the rough surfaces of the teeth’s roots will be gently smoothed out (root planing). This will make plaque and bacteria less likely to gather on them in the future, lowering the chances of reinfection.

Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry

Our soft tissue laser enables Dr. Galvan to attack gum disease with a whole new level of precision. Using a highly-concentrated beam of light, the laser can instantly vaporize harmful bacteria located below the gum line, plus it can also painlessly remove infected tissue. Even better, it can do both of these tasks while reducing the pain, swelling, or bleeding a patient would experience during a regular gum procedure. This instrument is fast, effective, and most of all, excellent at keeping a patient comfortable.

Antibiotic Therapy

After an initial periodontal cleaning, Dr. Galvan may choose to apply a topical antibiotic in order to further fight the infection. For this, she’ll use Arestin, which is a powder-like substance that is actually made up of thousands of tiny microspheres, each one filled with a potent medicine. After it has been applied to the gums, it will slowly dissolve over the next few days, enabling the medicine to reach and kill even the most deeply hidden bacteria.

Gum Graft Surgery

Your gum tissue cannot regenerate, and once it’s lost, it’s gone forever -- unless we perform a gum graft. Gums that have experienced severe recession as a result of gum disease, aggressive brushing, or some other factor can be made whole again with a gum graft. To perform this treatment, Dr. Galvan removes a portion of tissue from the roof of the mouth and places it on the gums to cover the exposed tooth roots.

Periodontal Pocket Reduction

For patients suffering from gum disease, periodontal pocket reduction removes the bacteria and tartar that has collected at the root of the tooth. This buildup cannot be eliminated with simple dental hygiene or a deep cleaning and will continue to eat away at the bone and gum tissue until a tooth extraction becomes necessary. Periodontal pocket reduction helps to drastically lower the risk of tooth loss.

Dental Crown Lengthening

When a tooth needs to be fixed with a dental crown or filling, it needs sufficient structure to support the restoration. If enough of the tooth isn’t present outside of the gum, a dental crown lengthening procedure can create more space for the restoration. This treatment removes excess gum tissue to reveal more tooth enamel. It may also be used for cosmetic reasons for patients who feel they have a “gummy smile.”