Office News - Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal (gum) disease—or periodontitis—has been linked with a number of maladies including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, colon cancer obesity and premature births. One of the earliest and most studied disease linked to gum disease are coronary diseases such as heart attack and stroke. In fact, people with periodontal disease are at twice the risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease as people with healthy gums. Scientist have discovered the bacteria that cause gum infections can also work their way into your blood stream and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

If you have periodontal (gum) disease, then you probably have oral bacteria floating around in your blood stream. Normally, your immune system ...

A new national survey released today reveals more than a quarter (27 percent) of U.S. adults admit they lie to their dentist about how often they floss their teeth. Additionally, more than one-third of Americans (36 percent) would rather do an unpleasant activity like cleaning the toilet (14 percent) over daily flossing. Along with brushing teeth twice a day and regular visits to your dentist, daily flossing is a critical component in the prevention of periodontal disease. The survey was conducted online in March by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) among 2,021 U.S. adults and among the top 10 U.S. markets.

Commonly referred to ...

So you went to the dentist and were told you needed a scaling and root planing. Your dentist probably brought up things like swollen gums, deep pockets, bleeding gums, and gingivitis. But what is the difference between a cleaning and scaling and root planing and why can’t you just get a regular cleanings? These are totally normal questions but the bottom line is that gum disease (a.k.a. periodontal disease) can be a major issue for your mouth and your overall health. Besides the bleeding gums, bad breath and sensitivity, untreated gum disease can cause you to lose your teeth. Even though periodontal disease is an infection in your mouth and ...