Thank you so much for changing the way I look at dentistry.
Kia H.

Cleanings and Periodontal Care

Dr. Hodges and his staff of highly skilled hygienists will assess your needs and create a plan to get you on your way to greater oral health.

By utilizing radiographs, periodontal probings, your health history, and other aspects of your oral health, they will diagnose your periodontal condition and recommend a treatment course that will assist you in optimizing your oral health.

For our healthiest patients we recommend a prophy two times per year. A prophy consists of removing plaque and calculus (calcified plaque) above the gumline followed by polishing with prophy paste. We will also monitor your pocket depths and other oral structures. Healthy pockets are 1-3mm deep. Pocket measurements will be checked once per year, and oral cancer screenings will be performed twice per year.

Patients with moderate gingivitis and mild to moderate periodontal disease may benefit from more involved procedures such as scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing (also known as quadrant therapy) involves the hygienist removing calculus and toxins that form below the gumline. These dangerous toxins are responsible for causing the bone and surrounding tissues to pull away from the tooth. This results in deeper pockets which in turn result in yet even more calculus and toxins forming. The resulting bone loss is known as periodontal disease, and it is one of the primary causes of tooth loss. Scaling and root planing is usually performed over two or more appointments while the patient is numb. Afterwards the patient will be seen more frequently (three to four times a year) to assist in preventing the reformation of calculus and toxins. This is known as periodontal maintenance.

In addition to scaling and root planing, Dr. Hodges and his staff may recommend certain medicinal therapies to improve your periodontal health. Arestin is an anti-microbial powder that can be injected into a periodontal pocket. The medicine is released over a three week period during which time it kills off the microbes that are responsible for bone loss. This results in an environment that supports return of the healthy tissues. Arestin is ideal for localized periodontal pockets that are 5-7mm deep and it often results in pockets shrinking two or more millimeters. Periostat is a presciption medication that is taken two times a day for nine months. The medication is slowly released in the deepest parts of the periodontal pockets, which results in microbe death and a positive environment for the return if healthy tissue. Periostat is best indicated for generalized pocketing.

For our patients with severe periodontal disease, we will accurately diagnose their condition, and then we will enlist the support of a periodontist (a gum and bone specialist/surgeon). The periodontist will assist in ensuring that these patients obtain the ideal care to improve their periodontal health.

Arterial wall inflammation is the number one cause of clot formation, which is the number one cause of heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. The number one cause of arterial wall inflammation is any chronic infection in our body. Want to take a guess at the number one chronic infection in our body? That's right- periodontal disease!!!!! Dr. Hodges and his staff will take every measure to ensure your periodontal health, and in turn your overall health will improve.

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