Periodontal disease often leaves sufferers concerned about the long-term health of their teeth and whether the Periodontist Long Island can help them keep that beautiful smile. If this is you than a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology may hold the answers you’ve been seeking.

This study evaluated the outcome of three different treatment options for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease including surgical treatment, non-surgical treatment or no treatment at all, where forty-eight percent of the teeth receiving the surgical treatment showed improved prognosis compared to only 12% for either of the other two options. Additionally the study revealed that 35% of the teeth that did not receive any treatment actually worsened in prognosis.

Study author Stephen Harrel shared, “It’s essential for patients to understand that optimal results are not always possible with non-surgical methods used, and with no treatment, periodontal disease usually gets worse.” Perhaps the best part of this study is that the results are done on an individual “tooth” basis rather than an average “score” so patients can place more stock in the end results.

If you want to keep your smile natural and beautiful this study reveals the best options available for anyone facing periodontal disease. When it comes to discussing treatment options these results help patients make an informed choice when developing their personal treatment plan.

But you don’t have to wait until you have periodontal disease to focus your efforts on keeping a beautiful smile. You can begin right now by following a few simple steps:

• Brush daily using a medium or soft bristled brush
• Floss using proper technique ensuring to clean every surface of your teeth and gum line
• Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
• Keep scheduled cleanings every 6 months with your dentist
• Have regular periodontal exams
• Observe your mouth daily for any unusual changes

If you have any questions about proper oral care or would like to have a detailed periodontal exam completed with a Periodontist Long Island contact Dr. Scharf. He treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, giving his patients an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Tags: Long Island peridontist, long island periodontist, periodontist in Long Island

This entry was posted on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 12:35 pm and is filed under Blog, Periodontist on Long Island. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.