Periodontal Disease is an ongoing infection in the pockets around the teeth. The deeper the pockets, the more infection you have and the more serious the infection. The purpose of periodontal treatment is to remove this infection and give these pockets a chance to heal. Dr. Charles performs the following periodontal treatments:
Basic Prophy: A prophylaxis includes mild scaling to remove any tartar, calculus, and stain from and between your teeth, followed by the polishing of your tooth surfaces.
Deep Cleaning: Deep Cleaning involves cleaning and smoothing of the root surfaces of the teeth to remove calculus and bacterial deposits below the gum line so that the gums can heal around them. This procedure may require several appointments, depending on the extent of your periodontal disease.
Antimicrobial Agent (Arestin): Arestin is a form of antibiotic that is actually injected into a periodontal pocket in order to kill off the bacteria that live there (Bacteria are the ultimate cause of periodontitis). It is generally used in pockets which are not easily reached with normal home cleaning aids.