So what can be done about my bacterial issues?

We treat bacteria at source; which translates into the following procedures:

1. Diagnosis: bacteria can be identified …
1. from a scraping of the gum pockets and looking at them under a special microscope. This identifies the shape, the form and how much movement there is in the sample. It does not identify the type of bacteria.
2. from a bacterial culture of the pockets – a sample is taken from a pocket and sent to a lab to be cultured. This identifies the species of bacteria. They are also challenged with the right anti-microbial agents for more accurate treatment.
2. Treatment: bacteria can be treated by …
1. Irrigation with an anti-microbial agent. We routinely irrigation each and every pocket in the mouth before we start any periodontal treatment. This reduces the bacterial count significantly because we use a special device that forces the heated irrigant under pressure. Heated and low pressure irrigation disrupts the environment inside the pockets which, in turn, causes the bacteria to be killed more effectively.
2. Scaling and root planning. This scrapes the surfaces of the teeth which further disrupts the habitat of the bacteria. Besides removing the bacteria, it also smoothens out the root surfaces as bacteria tend to adhere more to rough surfaces.
3. Identify other causes of bacterial accumulation. Sometimes, we find factors which cause bacterial accumulation. For e.g. rough fillings, fillings with overhangs, insufficient crown margins, dentures which trap food, etc. We address these issues during the restorative phase of our dentistry.
4. Oral hygiene and home care. As we get to see our patients once every 90-120 days, a lot of damage may be done between visits. We empower our patients to take care of their own hygiene at home.
3. Follow-up:
1. Regular follow-up visits. The interval between visits is determined by various factors such as the severity of gum disease, the ability for home care, the type of bacteria found, the progress of the disease.
2. Follow-up microscopy and/or bacterial culture. This is determined, again, by the factors listed above.