Non-Surgical Perioscopy
Phoenix, AZ
If you have gum disease, your teeth, along with your jawbone, are at risk. Untreated, your teeth can become loose, and may even fall out. Fortunately, treatments are available for stopping gum disease and allowing your gums, teeth, and jaw to heal. At Implant and Periodontal Wellness Center of Arizona, we can treat your gum disease without surgery, with a procedure known as a perioscopy.
The Progression of Gum Disease
Gum disease starts out as gingivitis. You may not even know you have it. Common symptoms—red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss—are often written off as a result of brushing too hard. As it progresses, your gums start to recede, creating pockets for bacteria to fall into. Once under the gums, bacteria become difficult to remove, and professional treatment becomes necessary. The bacteria attack your teeth, your jawbone, and the supporting structures. Eventually, your teeth become loose and fall out.
Traditional Gum Disease Treatments
More advanced stages of gum disease require professional help. Traditionally, gum disease treatments involve surgery. Options involve procedures like:| • |
Gum flap surgery, where your gums are opened to provide access to the roots of your teeth so that we can begin to clean them thoroughly.
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Soft tissue grafts, to help replace gum tissue lost to gum recession.
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Bone grafts, to replace bone mass lost to bacterial attack and restore strength to the jaw.
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Guided tissue generation, which helps to stimulate new bone growth (with the help of a bone graft) as well as tissue growth. |
Treating Gum Disease Without Surgery
Perioscopy allows us to treat your gum disease without surgery, which allows you to avoid a rather invasive procedure. A perioscope is a small dental endoscope that is equipped with lighting, video and magnification capabilities. This tool allows us to see what’s happening below your gumline, and ensures that we don’t miss anything.
We start by giving you a local anesthetic. We place the endoscope below your gums and move it gently across the surface of the roots of your teeth, removing plaque and bacteria. We will then flush the pockets and remove mineralized deposits with other, specialized tools. After we are finished, your gums can begin to heal.
Benefits of Perioscopy
Perioscopy offers numerous benefits:| • |
It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment option.
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There is less tissue trauma, as your gums do not need to be cut and manipulated.
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The procedure results in significantly less discomfort than surgery.
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We can better detect, and therefore remove, plaque buildup on the roots of your teeth. This ensures that we do a thorough job the first time.
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You are provided with a more accurate, and complete, debridement of your teeth, which then promotes better healing.
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The endoscope can also be used in a variety of other situations. It can be used as an early detection device to find decay, cracks or other damage, which then allows for early intervention. It can also be used if you are experiencing issues with your dental implants. |
Don't let gum disease destroy the health of your mouth. Contact Implant and Periodontal Wellness Center of Arizona today and find out if a non-surgical perioscopy is right for you. |
