Periodontics Staten Island, NY

Periodontitis can be a very serious condition that affects the gum tissues. It can disrupt a person’s entire oral health, causing symptoms such as bad breath, the release of pus and bleeding of gums, decaying of the gum tissues, loosening of the teeth from their sockets in the jawbone, receding of gum tissues, etc. Though there is no cure to this severe condition, it can effectively be controlled using medication.

What causes periodontitis?

The microbes in the mouth deposit themselves on the teeth and gums. Over time, they release harmful acids and toxins that cause cavities and gum diseases such as gingivitis. It is a mild gum disease characterized by bleeding and discharge of pus from the gums, bad breath, pain while biting and chewing food, etc. When left untreated for a long time, gingivitis can advance to a much severe form called periodontitis. Some of the other causes of gum diseases are root canal infection, external trauma to the gums, etc.

How is periodontitis treated?

When you visit the dentist with a severe case of gum diseases, the dentist will thoroughly diagnose you and develop a treatment plan. Initially, we will remove the infected gum tissues using laser therapy. For this, we use an intense laser beam to vaporize the tissues and seal the wound underneath instantaneously. This process is quick, painless, and the best way to remove infected gums. Further, if the volume of gums is less and the gum line has receded, we will suggest a gum graft to replenish its volume. Soft tissues will be extracted from a healthy part of the mouth, such as the palate, and grafted to the receded region.

Can medication be used to treat periodontitis?

Arestin is a powerful antibiotic that is used to kill the microbes that cause periodontitis. A trained periodontist places it in the right place between the teeth and the gum line, thereby making it highly effective. It can be used in two ways:

• During a periodontal treatment, the dentist would place just the right amount of Arestin on the infected gum tissues. It is mostly placed in the gum pockets where the accumulation of bacteria and debris is maximum.
• Right after a session of scaling and root planing, which are dental procedures carried out to remove the accumulated plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth and the roots, the dentist would place Arestin just below the gum line. This prevents the multiplying of bacteria in those regions.

The significant advantage of Arestin is that its effect lasts a long time. It fights the symptoms of periodontitis like inflammation and redness for at least 30 days and the accumulation of bacteria for up to 90 days.

Please schedule an appointment online or call us at (718) 447-4510 to have a consultation with Dr. Brenman and his associates, and we will be happy to help.