Healthy gums are just as important as healthy teeth. We offer a variety of services to help you get back on track with your gum health.

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Periodontal Treatment in Waynesboro, VA

Periodontal Treatment Waynesboro VA Many people think that bleeding gums and bad breath are just a part of life or a part of aging, but these are actually warning signs that your body needs your attention. Bleeding gums, bad breath, sensitivity, recession, inflammation in your gums, and tooth mobility are all a sign that you suffer from periodontal (gum) disease. While gum disease is a common condition that millions of Americans suffer from, in most cases it is entirely preventable.

What Causes Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

Patients often acquire gum disease because of neglect when it comes to brushing and flossing or because of missing their professional dental cleanings. Certain medications, medical conditions, hormonal changes, and loss of dexterity can all contribute to the development of gum disease. When you brush and floss regularly, you remove the biofilm and bacteria that form on your teeth and gums. Even the most diligent brusher and flosser cannot remove tartar from between their teeth and beneath their gum line. That is why professional dental cleanings are so important.

When tartar builds up on your teeth, it harbors bacteria and irritates your gums, causing inflammation. This is the start of gum disease and can lead to periodontal pocketing, which causes your gums to loosen around your teeth and collect even more debris and bacteria, making your condition worse.

The bacteria give off an unpleasant odor and cause sore, swollen gums. These are signs that you need a trip to the dentist so you can get back on track. Because gum disease is below your gum line, curing it on your own without professional help is unlikely.

Fortunately, at Browning Family Dentistry, we have a skilled and gentle hygiene team to help you take steps toward a healthier, more comfortable smile.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Our professional hygienists always make our patients’ health a priority. They will evaluate your condition and provide the type of dental cleaning that will eliminate your infection and help your body heal.

Regular dental cleanings are for people with generally healthy teeth and gums. You might have these two to four times a year depending on your needs. For patients who build tartar and are prone to gum infections, every six months may not be enough to stay healthy and keep your infection under control. We will recommend a hygiene recall schedule that will help protect your health.

Periodontal dental cleanings are for patients who have some catching up to do. If you have periodontal pocketing, an advanced sign of gum disease, we will gently remove tartar and bacteria from above and below your gum line. We will also provide any additional treatments or medication to assist with healing. Close monitoring of your condition will help us to adjust your treatment as needed.

Periodontal maintenance appointments will help keep your infection under control because once you have gum disease, reinfection is likely without the proper professional care.

Laser dentistry is often offered when surgery is necessary for healing. Laser surgery gives patients faster healing times and greater comfort during treatment.

Call Us Today for Your Next Dental Cleaning Appointment

Call our Waynesboro, VA dental office to schedule an exam with Dr. Browning. Their diagnosis will be the first step toward improving the health of your teeth and gums. Our friendly and professional team looks forward to helping you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is periodontal disease?

Better known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a state in which there is inflammation of the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth. Gingivitis is the most commonly known type of periodontal disease where the gums are red, inflamed and bleed. Periodontitis is an advanced from of periodontal disease when the bone and ligament of the teeth are affected which commonly leads to tooth loss.

Can periodontal disease be treated or cured?

Periodontal disease is broken into two categories - gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis affects the gums and is considered reversible with good oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing. A person's overall health can cause gingivitis through an unhealthy diet, smoking or some health conditions that lower the body's immune response.

Periodontitis affects not only the gums but the bone and ligaments responsible for keeping the teeth attached. Periodontitis is considered irreversible but can be controlled through more frequent recalls (3-4 months instead of every 6 months), having a scaling and root planing procedure done, and maintenance appointments to monitor the disease. Once a person is diagnosed with periodontitis they will be labeled as having periodontal disease permanently due to the loss of bone and ligament attachment that cannot be regrown.

What is a scaling and root planing procedure?

This procedure is best described as a "deep cleaning." Its purpose is to clean underneath a patient's gums in order to remove build up and harmful bacteria which can progress their periodontal disease further. Removing the factors that are irritating the gums and supporting structures of the teeth is an attempt to allow the gums to heal. If left untreated, the disease could progress further into tooth loss. This procedure is different than a prophylaxis due to it involves going underneath the gums, where as a prophy appointment only deals with the removal of build up and bacteria which forms above the gums. A dental hygienist performs this procedure and uses similar instruments regularly used in a normal cleaning, but also has adjunctive services with being able to numb the gums for patient comfort.

What is the cavitron?

A cavitron is an ultrasonic scaler which uses high frequency vibrations and water flow to clean the teeth efficiently. In conjunction with the standard scalers used to clean teeth, a patient receives an overall better cleaning due to the effectiveness of the cavitron removing the majority of the build up present on the teeth with the vibrations, as well as the flushing out of any harmful bacteria present along the gums with the water.

How do you measure gum disease?

A dental hygienist uses a periodontal probe which is a dental instrument able to measure the attachment level of the ligament and bone surrounding a tooth. The probe is placed between the gum and the tooth and is only placed down far enough to measure the ligament attachment, which in a healthy mouth is only 1-3 mm below the gum line. The space being measured naturally has a pocket that the probe is small enough to fit into so there is minimal to no discomfort when having these areas measured. Every tooth is measured on the sides, front and back to ensure that the gums are healthy all the way around the tooth. Typically a healthy mouth takes no longer than 2 minutes to probe. If a person presents with periodontal disease the probe charting usually takes longer but no longer than 5 minutes. Measuring for gum disease is included in the prophylaxis appointment and has become a standard procedure.

Meet Our Doctor:

Steve Browning DDS

Dr. Browning received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He also received advanced training in orthodontics, including ClearCorrect, Invisalign, and Six Month Braces. He is certified in soft tissue laser dentistry.

Outside of the office, Dr. Browning enjoys camping, golfing, snowboarding, and spending time with his family and his twins, Elena and Nathan.

Featured Blog Posts - Periodontal Treatment

May 5, 2016

Periodontal Disease - Don't Be a Statistic!

"Over 47 percent of the U.S. adult population ages 30 years and older have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults over age 65 have moderate to severe forms of periodontal disease." -ADA 2012. To begin, periodontal disease is another term for gum disease which ranges from gingivitis (bleeding and inflamed gums) all the way to periodontitis which can lead to tooth loss. The picture of health for a patient does not involve bleeding gums, ...

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