Periodontal (gum) disease is an inflammation or infection of the gums and bone that supports the teeth. It's caused by the bacteria in plaque (the sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth). While seldom painful and frequently free of any obvious signs or symptoms, periodontal disease can progress, undetected, to the point where supporting bone is destroyed.

With 80% to 90% of all teenagers having some form of gingivitis (inflamed gums) and 75% of adult tooth loss for people over the age of 35 due to periodontal disease, early treatment and prevention is essential.

Periodontal disease is primarily caused by bacterial plaque, although factors like genetics, smoking and tobacco and certain medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease, are also known to be causes. Gum disease is usually painless and can go undetected until it is too late. The initial symptoms are bleeding gums and bad breath.

We perform periodontal therapy on patients diagnosed with early periodontal disease. This is performed by removing deep tartar by a procedure called as scaling and root planing. This is usually performed with local anesthesia to ensure that the procedure is not uncomfortable for the patient.

Recent advances in periodontal treatment include using lasers to improve the healing of the gum tissue after scaling and root planing and applying antibiotics into the gum pockets to treat the gum infection.