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Periodontal Therapy

Gum Disease Therapy – Studio City, CA

Protecting More Than Just Your Teeth

Woman with healthy smile

While much of dentistry is focused on the teeth, the condition of the gums is actually just as important when it comes to the health and appearance of the smile. Without proper care, the gums can easily develop an infection called periodontal (gum) disease, which can cause tenderness, swelling, and even tooth loss. At Studio City Dental Arts, we always screen our patients’ gums during their regular dental checkups, so we can find and treat the earliest signs of a problem. If your gums feel sensitive or if they bleed every time you clean your teeth, be sure to contact us today so we can protect your smile.

Scaling & Root Planing

Closeup of healthy teeth and gums

If we’re able to catch periodontal disease early enough, it can usually be treated using scaling and root planing, which can be thought of as a dental cleaning that is specifically focused on the gums. First, an ultrasonic cleaner is used to remove any and all plaque and tartar deposits from beneath the gum line (scaling), and then the rough surfaces of the teeth’s roots are gently smoothed out (root planing). Why do we do this? This makes plaque less likely to gather along the gums in the future, lowering a patient’s risk of reinfection.

Antibiotic Therapy

Animation of antibiotic therapy

After an initial periodontal cleaning, Dr. Shahrestany may choose to apply a topical antibiotic to eliminate any bacteria that is still hidden deep below the gum line. She’ll use Arestin, which looks like a powder, but it is actually made of thousands of tiny microspheres that are each filled with a powerful antimicrobial agent. Once on the gums, the spheres will slowly dissolve so the medicine can reach any remaining bacteria.