Gum Disease/PerioProtect®

Periodontics: Gum Disease

What are Gingivitis and Periodontitis?

Gum disease is manifested in two forms.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, causing an inflammation and some bleeding of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline.

Periodontitis is the second stage where the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are damaged.


Healthy gums

Gingivitis causes gum inflammation but no bone loss.

Periodontitis causes bone damage and loss.

The Progression of Gum Disease

Periodontitis is a common complaint affecting approximately 50% of U.S. adults over the age of 30 years. It occurs in people who have preexisting gingivitis which is itself caused by the accumulation of bacteria at the gum line (dental plaque). Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gumline, which traps food and plaque. If left untreated, plaque calcifies to form dental calculus. Dental calculus must be removed completely by the dentist in order to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage. If left untreated bone supporting your teeth can be destroyed, causing your teeth to shift or loosen.

Treatment of Gum Disease

Dr. Cobble uses professional scraping instruments to remove bacterial plaque and calculus around teeth and below the gum-line. Local anesthesia is commonly used to keep the patient comfortable during this procedure. An antibiotic may be prescribed to prevent bacterial development during the gum healing process. Dr. Cobble, is specialized in treating all forms of periodontal disease.

Perio Protect®

Dr. Cobble is proud to introduce his patients to Perio Protect®. The Perio Protect Method™ does not rely on antibiotics and it can overcome the problem of crevicular fluid flow with its patented delivery system. The Perio Protect Method™ uses an FDA cleared medical device called a Perio Tray to deliver and maintain medications in the periodontal pockets in a controlled manner. When the medications are delivered with this tray, they can treat the biofilm layer to kill the bacteria and breakdown the protein film over the teeth. This method also overcomes the problems of crevicular fluid flow with safely repeated applications of medication in an easy, comfortable treatment program. This new treatment method is integrated into your homecare, giving you greater control over your disease.

Perio Protect®, custom Perio Trays™ are fabricated to fit precisely over your teeth and gum tissue with special seals that direct medication to the site of the infection and maintain it there for a sufficient frequency and duration to treat the disease effectively. For most patients, this amounts to minutes each day. As healing occurs and your conditions improve, Dr. Cobble will modify the frequency and duration of usage, gradually decreasing your usage until the disease is under control while at the same time you follow a homecare maintenance schedule to keep the disease at bay.
Dr. Cobble is specialized in treating all forms of periodontal disease.

Prevention of Gum Disease

Daily oral hygiene is vital in preventing the onset and growth of gum disease. Brushing and flossing are vital in keeping teeth free from plaque-generating bacteria.

Contact us today to set up an appointment with Dr. Jan Cobble to examine the health of your mouth.