Cleanings and Gum Disease Treatment
We help you keep your teeth healthy for your whole life!
The fight to save your teeth for life begins with your gums. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Furthermore, gum disease can negatively affect not just the health of your gums and teeth, but of your body, too.
So what’s the secret to successfully fighting gum disease? Good oral hygiene. At Maitre and Crabtree Dental Group we make sure you get a very thorough cleaning, along with instructions on proper home care of your teeth. We want to help you keep your teeth clean so you’ll avoid the need to battle gum disease. And if you do have gum disease, our doctors and trained hygienists will help you win the battle.
Experienced, gentle, caring and thorough hygienists
We have experienced hygienists who are very good and have helped many of our patients avoid serious gum disease issues. Most of them have worked their way up from assistants to hygienists. Some of our hygienists have been with us for decades and all of them take continuing education classes on a yearly basis, especially in the areas of dental cleaning and gum disease.
You’ll find our hygienists to be friendly, caring people who make a point of getting to know you and your family. They are a talented group of professionals who love to spend time with patients. Rest assured they will go out of their way to take care of you during your visits and make sure you are comfortable with your care.
Gentle, thorough Teeth Cleanings
Our hygienists are great with kids and will show them how to care for their teeth properly.
Dental cleanings are the foundation for good oral health. You can depend on any of our 10 well-trained licensed hygienists to make sure your cleaning is very thorough, and that you will be comfortable while getting your teeth cleaned. The first step, scaling, involves one of our professional hygienists removing tartar from your roots and teeth. Our hygienists use an ultrasonic scaler to gently clean the teeth.
High-Tech and comfortable Gum Disease Treatment
Our dentists and hygienists use the latest advances in modern dentistry to treat mild to moderate gum disease. You can read more about our high-tech equipment below.
Ultrasonic scaler for maximum comfort and effectiveness
At Maitre and Crabtree Dental Group, our hygienists use a Piezo ultrasonic scaler when patients have inflamed gums or for teeth with heavy stains and excessive calcium deposits. Ultrasonic scaling is usually more comfortable and efficient than hand scaling. Ultrasonic scalers vibrate at a frequency that breaks down bacteria and removes calculus, plaque and tartar, all without doing any harm to your teeth as conventional scrapers can.
Severe gum disease
For those patients who have already developed severe gum disease, or periodontitis, you will be glad to know we have partnered with an experienced periodontist who is right in our complex. You will be treated with the latest advances in periodontal care. We will work closely with this specialist until your severe gum disease problem is solved.
Periodontal Exam
A periodontal exam is always a part of your regular dental checkup at Maitre and Crabtree. Our hygienists use a small dental instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the pocket between your teeth and gums. This will determine if you have gum disease and to what extent.
A chart of your teeth will be made based on findings from the clinical exam, X-rays and intraoral camera photos. This charting provides our dentists with a graphic description of the conditions in your mouth, including decay, restorations, missing teeth, pocket depths, bleeding sites and other deviations from normal.
Laser gum treatment
Designed for the soft-tissues of the mouth, our top-of-the-line Kavo Gentle Ray 980 diode laser promotes instant healing of the soft tissue, while routinely reducing the size of the gum pockets and increasing the bone height around your teeth, which usually results in a healthier mouth. We also use our gentle laser for gingivectomies, which is the surgical removal of gum tissue.
Eliminating the bacteria
Scaling and root planing are effective at reducing plaque and some of the bacteria that cause gum disease. But they can’t kill all the bacteria causing gum disease. Our dentists often recommend a locally administered antibiotic called ARESTIN® antibiotic therapy to treat difficult to reach periodontal pockets where bacteria reside.
PerioMed Fluoride Oral Rinse Concentrate
PerioMed Fluoride Oral Rinse Concentrate provides antimicrobial activity for up to eight hours. PerioMed does not contain alcohol and it costs about the same as the leading over-the-counter mouthwashes. Daily use of PerioMed, along with the treatment offered by our dentists and hygienists, can help reduce gum inflammation and sensitivity, control bleeding gums, aid in tooth remineralization and provide tooth decay protection by strengthening the enamel.
Patient education
Maitre and Crabtree Dental Group puts a strong emphasis on educating patients about improving their oral health. Our certified hygienists offer professional gum disease prevention counseling and video training. Teaching you how to properly floss and brush to prevent gum disease is something they will actively work on with you on a private and personal basis.
To make an appointment, call 251‑344‑4571 or request an appointment online.