Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that penetrates into the gums and into the bone around your teeth, causing inflammation. Periodontal inflammation leads to bone loss, and possibly tooth loss, and may contribute to other serious medical conditions.

The periodontal infection must be removed and the area given a chance to heal. There are generally two levels of treatment for this condition depending upon the severity of your infection.

Scaling and Root Planing

The upper level of infection in the pockets around your teeth can be removed using specialized instruments. This procedure is called, “Scaling and Root Planing," “Phase One Treatment" or “Initial Therapy." It is done under local anesthesia and is quite different from the routine dental cleaning that is traditionally done.

Surgical Therapy

If your infection has spread into the bone that supports your teeth and is below the level that can be reached in "Upper Level Infection Removal," then a surgical procedure must be performed to retract the gums and remove the lower level infection.

When periodontal disease reaches this lower level, it dissolves the bone around the teeth and can lead to bone loss. Once the infection has been removed, repair of the damaged area with a procedure called bone grafting.

Piezosurgery

The Piezosurgery Unit utilizes a patented, controlled three-dimensional ultrasonic vibration, which precisely cuts bone, but does not penetrate soft tissue (i.e. sinus membranes, gingival or soft nerve tissue). As such, it is ideal for sensitive areas (i.e. sinus lifts and alveolar ridge augmentation). The following are some of its advantages:

• Hard tissue incisions are more precise because of micro vibrations.
• It is safer because the ultrasonic frequency used does not cut soft tissue.
• The cutting action is less invasive, producing less collateral tissue damage, which results in faster healing.

Other advantages include:

• Sterile water environment for better asepsis (free from contamination).
• Minimal bur or saw noise.
• Lower healing times and less post operative discomfort.