At Radiant Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Danlu Lee & Wendy Yeung are happy to help our patients in Kirkland, Washington, and the surrounding communities achieve their healthy smile goals. While the early stages of gum disease respond well to improved oral hygiene, such as toothbrushing, flossing, and oral rinsing, if gum disease is not treated, it can progress into periodontitis. Once you have periodontitis, this is a serious gum infection that can eventually destroy the bones supporting your teeth.
To treat periodontitis, we will prescribe periodontal maintenance, which involves visiting our office on a regular basis, generally once every three months, to have a professional cleaning done. These treatments include thorough cleanings above and below the gum line, removing hardened plaque, also known as tartar, or dental calculus. Treatment of oral infections also requires removal of the biofilm from the teeth and gums followed up with antibiotic therapy. However, these infections are not completely responsive to antibiotics. This is why oral infections are chronic diseases that require ongoing treatment and daily care by proper oral hygiene measures.
Periodontal maintenance is recommended every three months because if the biofilm is not removed, the periodontal bacteria begin to flourish within three to twelve weeks. By providing a cleaning every twelve weeks (three months), we can remove these bacteria and keep the condition under control.
If you are experiencing problems with your gums, or if you have any questions regarding your oral health, please give our Radiant Smiles Family Dentistry team a call today at (425) 828.9721 and let us help. Dr. Danlu Lee & Wendy Yeung are always ready to help our patients in Kirkland, Washington, achieve bright, healthy smiles!