Gum Disease Treatment – Henrico, VA

Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is one of the most common and effective treatments recommended for gum disease before it becomes severe. This deep cleaning treatment includes two main steps:

• Scaling: Removing plaque and tartar (dental calculus) from the tooth surface.
• Root Planing: Cleaning the roots of the teeth, smoothing them to remove bacterial toxins.

The goals of this treatment are to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and to halt the progress of the disease. While most scaling and root planing treatments can be completed comfortably without an anesthetic, our dentist can offer several anesthetics and other comfort options to make certain that you feel at ease during your treatment. The scaling and root planing treatment may be split up into several appointments, in which we treat one section of the mouth at each appointment.

Laser Periodontal Therapy

When small pockets of bacteria cannot be eliminated with scaling and root planing, our team uses a diode laser to reduce bacteria and provide laser-assisted periodontal therapy. By targeting these small areas with a dental laser, it not only offers optimal precision, but it also keeps non-affected tissues healthy and untouched. Recovery is also swifter because the laser reduces bleeding, swelling, and the chance of infection.

OralDNA Bacteria Testing

Who Does Your Teeth is pleased to offer an advanced periodontal prevention and treatment option for our patients: oral bacterial DNA testing. This treatment is not widely offered among dentists. By collecting a DNA sample from the inside of your mouth and having it analyzed at a laboratory, Dr. Neal can precisely and accurately diagnose periodontal disease and provide early treatment to prevent painful symptoms and keep your smile looking beautiful and feeling healthy!

There are over 600 types of bacteria inside the human mouth. Of these, scientists have been able to accurately identify 13 strains that cause periodontal disease. These bacteria can attack quickly, especially when your body is under stress. By testing for these 13 bacterial strains in the DNA of any bacteria in your mouth, we can specifically identify which strains you have and begin treating them right away, even if the traditional signs have not yet appeared.

Antibiotic Therapy with Arestin®

Arestin is a powdered antibiotic that is used during your periodontal treatments at our office. Once our dentist completes a scaling and root planing treatment, he will place some Arestin powder inside the gum pockets to treat the inner infection. The antibiotic slowly releases medication over two weeks, providing a more thorough and effective defense against periodontal bacteria. Patients who receive this treatment will need to return regularly until the infection is reduced and maintained.