NEW GUM DISEASE TREATMENT GUIDELINES

Chronic periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss, afflicts 47.2 percent of the United States adult population aged 30 years and older. The incidences of moderate and severe periodontitis are estimated at 30 percent and 8.5percent, respectively, among U.S. adults. In an effort to more effectively treat chronic periodontitis and related complications, the American Dental Association (ADA) has recently released new guidelines on gum-disease treatment. Dentists are now advised to use “scaling and root planing” (SRP) as initial treatment. A side-by-side comparison of various periodontitis treatments (including the use of antibiotics) showed that SRP, which involves deep cleaning of dental plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces, is the best approach.

If we discover gum disease early enough, we can minimize or even reverse its potentially devastating effects. Oral health is a long-term commitment we share with each patient. Please call us at 714.992.0092 for an evaluation today. At the office of PAUL E. NELSON, D.D.S., we provide a wide array of services. We’re located at 100 N. State College Blvd., Suite 1.

P.S. Plaque that stays on teeth longer than two or three days can harden under the gumline into tartar.