Periodontal Therapy – Virginia Beach, VA

Giving Your Pearly Whites a Healthy Foundation

Gum disease isn’t just a very common oral health problem—it’s the most common disease in the United States. More people struggle with it than with heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and cancer combined. According to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults in the United States has some form of gum disease. Below, you can learn more about the available options for periodontal therapy in Virginia Beach, VA. 

Why Choose Smile Care Family Dentistry
for Periodontal Therapy?

  • Advanced Dental Technology for More Comfortable Treatment
  • Our Dental Hygienists Love Helping Nervous Patients Relax
  • Personalized, Relationship-Based Dental Care

What is Gum Disease?

Animated smile in need of periodontal therapy for gum disease

Gum disease is caused by an accumulation of bacteria and plaque around the teeth and gums. In the very earliest stages, you may not experience any noticeable symptoms. In more advanced cases, gum disease symptoms include:

  • Sensitive gums
  • Gums that bleed when you brush
  • Frequent bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • A receding gumline

Gum disease can’t be cured, but Dr. Javeed can provide therapy to help you enjoy better oral health and wellbeing. The most common therapies for gum disease include scaling and root planing as well as treatment with antibiotics.

Scaling & Root Planing

Animated smile during scaling and root planing treatment

Scaling and root planing refers to a two-part procedure that’s like a regular dental cleaning, except it specifically focuses on your gumline. First, our Dental Hygienists use advanced dental instruments to clear away plaque and tartar that have accumulated along the gumline, eliminating the bacteria that contribute to gum disease. Then, she smooths out the roots of the teeth beneath the gums. This reduces your risk of future infection by making it more difficult for plaque to attach to your teeth later on.

Arestin Antibiotic Therapy

Arestin antibiotic therapy

As gum disease progresses, pockets begin to form between the gums and the teeth. Unfortunately, these pockets are ideal places for bacteria to hide and thrive. While scaling and root planing can remove much of these bacteria, antibiotic therapy can target the infection in the deepest sections of the pockets. We can apply some microspheres within the pockets of the gums, called Arestin, that will release antibiotics over the course of two weeks to target the origin of your infection.