Periodontal Treatment
What is Gum Disease?
The gums are the foundations of your teeth and in order to care for your teeth, the gums must also be looked after. Diseases of the gums such as gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis can range from mild to moderate to severe, depending on how affected the gum tissue is. Gum disease occurs when the tissue surrounding your teeth become detached, inflamed and infected due to an accumulation of bacteria.
What are the Causes of Gum Disease?
Gum diseases are most commonly caused by poor nutrition habits, smoking, certain drugs, insufficient brushing techniques and failure to remove plaque, calculus and tartar on and around the gums. The buildup of plaque is normal, but its excessive accumulation results in irritation and inflammation of the gums.
Types of Gum Disease
This is the beginning stage of gum disease where the gums are initially becoming tender, swollen, appear to be more red and may bleed upn brushing. Gingivitis usually stems from a lack of thorough cleaning techniques and may present with no irritation yet. It can be reversed if caught in time, and treated properly with home care and consistency.
In this stage, the accumulated plaque and its bacteria will multiply and inhabit the tissue below the gumline. This encourages irritation, and an innate mechanism for our body to start to deteriorate the gum tissue and bone structure that has been affected. At this point, the teeth and the gums become detached and pockets form, which can cause loosening of teeth from the socket and can eventually result in a tooth extraction.
This stage of severe periodontitis is usually irreversible and usually results in the decay of the teeth and permanent tooth loss.
How can you recognize periodontal gum disease?
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Bright red gums
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Gum tenderness and sensitivity
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Bleeding/ swelling
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Bad breath
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Toothache/ tooth loss
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Receding gum line
What treatments do we provide to prevent disease and maintain your gum health?
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Periodontal treatment seeks to correct gum disease and can be treated with simple gum treatments such as scaling and root planing, better known as a deep cleaning.
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For more severe gum conditions, other procedures may be required. These include, but are not limited to, medication and antibiotic placement under the gums, bone grafting, crown lengthenings and gingival flap surgery, based on the severity of the conditions.
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The first step to caring for your gums is to consistently attend your dental appointments and make a habit out of routine home care, such as regular brushing and flossing.
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Feel free to schedule your consultation to find out what is needed for you specifically.
Call us today or stop by our experienced team to work with you and find out which oral care products are right for you!
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