Periodontal disease
Root planing treatment

Alternatives to Periodontal Treatment

What are your choices for treating periodontal disease?

If you have periodontal disease, your choices are limited. You could:

• Delay treatment
• Choose treatment

Delaying treatment

We don't recommend delaying treatment because periodontal disease doesn't go away on its own. Periodontal disease is an ongoing, degenerative infection of the teeth, gums, and bone that surrounds the teeth, caused by bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins, and these toxins, combined with the body's reaction to them, destroy the bone around your teeth.

Bone lost never grows back on its own. If too much bone is lost, teeth become loose and have to be removed.

Chosing treatment

The sooner you choose treatment, the better chance we have of controlling the disease and saving your teeth.

Treatment involves a combination of scaling and root planing, new homecare techniques, and frequent dental cleanings and recare appointments. In more severe cases, treatment could also include medication or surgery.

Treatment removes the infection and keeps the disease under control.