In our practice, we believe that having a healthy mouth starts with having healthy gums and underlying bone that support our teeth. That is why at your initial exam, either Dr. Vick or one of our dental hygienists will perform a thorough periodontal examination, to determine the health of your gums and the underlying bone and to diagnose if there is any sign of gum disease.
If gum disease is caught in it's earliest stages often time it can be reversed. However, if gum disease is allowed to progress it can get to the point where it affects the underlying bone of the jaw, which is termed periodontal disease.
If you are diagnosed with having periodontal disease, you will likely be recommended to have periodontal therapy. The goal of periodontal therapy is to halt the disease process and prevent it from causing further damage to the bone.