Periodontal Therapy

Functional dentistry is an approach to dental care that emphasizes prevention for oral diseases, such as managing the oral microbiome, providing dietary recommendations amongst others. Unlike conventional dentistry, functional dentistry focuses on the root causes of oral disease and works with each patient to develop an individualized plan of care. Additionally, it recognizes that the health of the mouth reflects overall health, taking an all-body approach to dental well-being.

When plaque builds up along the gum line, and the bacteria in that plaque start releasing toxins, inflammation and gum disease can occur. Scaling and root planing are treatments that address these conditions by cleaning deep beneath the gums. Your mouth is closely related to the health of your body as a whole. In functional dentistry, when it comes to treating a patient with gum disease, we assess the bite and tooth alignment so we can figure out what’s causing breakdown and/or recession of the gum tissues but we also evaluate the root of the problem — even beyond diet. Gum disease can sometimes be related to autoimmune disease, blood sugar dysregulation, or chronic levels of total-body inflammation. I may need to refer you to a Functional Medical general practitioner for blood tests and follow-up to see if any of those issues are at play.