Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases in the world and can affect not only your gums and oral health but also your overall health. If you have periodontal disease, you will need specialized care for proper treatment of this disease.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place. Left untreated, periodontal disease causes painful, bleeding gums and leads to loss of the bone that supports the teeth.

In a healthy mouth, there should never be a gap between the teeth and gums. With periodontitis, the bacteria causes a gap (or pocket) to develop between the gums and teeth. The Dental Hygienists at McAllister Dentistry use a technique called “scaling and root planing” for precise cleaning of roots of the teeth to remove bacteria and to allow the gums to reattach to the teeth. It is very important that patients practice good daily oral hygiene to keep periodontitis from returning.