About Periodontal Disease
in Long Island

What Exactly is Periodontal Disease?

You might’ve heard all about plaque and gingivitis when you’ve watched commercials on television for oral health products. Gingivitis is a form of infection caused by the buildup of unhealthy bacteria in your mouth. It can cause your gums to be irritated and inflamed, but some cases take longer before it becomes a noticeable concern. As the bacteria builds up, it is able to spread through your gums and into your teeth and jaw.

We see more patients lose teeth to gingivitis than to other factors such as an injury or an untreated cavity. The reason for this is that unhealthy gums can’t support your teeth and they’ll pull away from your teeth if you don’t receive periodontal disease treatment in time. If the infection spreads to your bone, it can become difficult to treat because it’s not easy to reach or drain the bacteria as your immune system fights off the infection.

In the most severe cases, gum disease can threaten your general health. Infections that reach the blood can move to other areas of the body. While it’s rare, some patients have suffered from septic shock due to untreated periodontal disease. It can be easy to discount the impact that your oral health has on the rest of your body, but treating your condition and then performing a daily care routine is important.

Advanced Periodontal Disease Treatment Methods

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Scharf will review the treatment options with you that he feels will be most successful. Here are some of the ways we may be able to treat your condition.

• Scaling and root planing: This is a non-surgical procedure where Dr. Scharf will physically remove all of the built-up tartar and plaque on your gums and teeth. He will also prescribe antibiotics to kill off the bacteria he can’t reach with his instruments. When combined with proper home care routines, this method resolves most cases when they’re caught early.
• Periodontal surgery: Dr. Scharf may recommend osseous surgery, which should remove infected tissue beneath your gum line so that your gums can heal and recover from the infection. He will then make sure that your gums are recovered to their normal depth.
• LANAP: This stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It’s an advanced procedure that uses a laser to remove your diseased tissue while also helping your bones grow back. It’s an alternative to traditional surgery that Dr. Scharf can tell you more about if you’re considering multiple options.
• Bone preservation treatments: In the advanced stages of gum disease, periodontal disease treatment revolves around saving your jaw along with your teeth. If your bones have started to deteriorate, you may need this form of intervention to prevent the loss of your teeth.
• Bone grafts: If you’ve already lost a significant amount of bone, Dr. Scharf can use bone grafting to replace lost bone mass and even prepare your mouth for a set of dental implants. This is often reserved for the most severe cases.