Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment
Diagnosis and Maintenance is CriticalPeriodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
Unfortunately most people don’t know anything about it.
Periodontal disease has been linked to certain cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease attacks the gingiva (gums) and the supporting structures of the tooth. This often occurs due to an immunological response from your body against the accumulation of bacteria, plaque, and calculus against the tooth surface and gum. A sign of periodontal disease includes red, swollen bleeding gums. Early signs of periodontal disease often go unnoticed because it is usually painless. That is why at regular dental hygiene appointments the gums and bone are evaluated clinically and radiographically (with x-rays).
Diagnosis
A thorough periodontal examination aids in diagnosing periodontal disease. A dental probe is used to measure pocketing around the tooth. Healthy pockets around teeth are typically less than 3 millimeters with no bleeding. Periodontal disease maybe occurring if there is an increase in pocketing, mobility, bleeding, and/or inflammation.
Treatment
Depending on the type and severity of the disease, an appropriate course of therapy is indicated for periodontal disease. Early stages of disease can sometimes be reversed by routine cleaning and an improvement in home care. More advanced disease requires a more invasive approach requiring extensive cleaning below the gum line called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning). These cleaning appointments are longer and require specialized instruments to remove all debris underneath the gums.
Maintenance
An important part of slowing the progression of periodontal disease is a good maintenance regiment. Periodontal maintenance is performed every three months to help manage the removal of tartar and calculus above and below the gums. Any progression or improvement of the gums and tooth support is charted at this visit.
Don't Be Shy. Get In Touch!
If you are interested in working together on your dental health, send me an inquiry and I will get in touch as soon as we can!
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Waking up tired! Do I have Sleep Apnea?
What is Sleep Apnea? Most people don't realize they have sleep apnea because it only occurs during sleep. Could you have sleep apnea? A sleep partner might be the first to notice signs such as snoring or sudden halt in breathing. Untreated sleep apnea could increase...
Summer Smiles – Dental Veneers
Dental Veneers - A Healthy Mouth Gets A Great Smile! Tired of looking at your stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth? Then, think VENEERS! No matter your age, everyone deserves a healthy good-looking smile. There are options for correcting chips, cracks,...
Congratulations little winners!
The best thing about celebrating Dental Awareness Month was to see all the great pictures! Our hearts shine when we see our little friends starting their dental journey the right way. Our office mission has always been to help people gain confidence with their...