What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease occurs when the supporting tissues of the teeth become infected. Plaque can build up on the teeth and harden, typically due to poor oral hygiene habits. Eventually, the gums are affected.
Untreated gum disease can lead to a variety of oral health concerns including a receding gum line, inflamed and bleeding gums, bacteria-filled pockets between the teeth and gums, and eventual bone loss.
Gum Disease Therapy
Depending on the type and severity of gum disease affecting a patient's oral health, periodontal treatment methods can vary. Our dentists will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs.
Once your periodontal treatment concludes, our dental team will recommend that you come in for regular dental examinations and preventive therapy, usually four times annually.
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Preventive Gum Therapy
If the disease is caught in the early stages, preventive therapy will be recommended.
Regular hygiene cleanings and exams are important for maintaining the health of your gums.
By practicing good oral hygiene at home and eating a balanced diet, you can also significantly reduce your chances of ever getting gum disease. -
Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients with mild gum disease, a deep cleaning performed by a dental hygienist may be enough to reverse it.
The dental hygienist will scrape away the plaque and tartar around and below the gum line, and smooth out any rough areas left behind through a process called scaling and root planing. -
Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients with more advanced forms of gum disease, more invasive surgical treatments may be necessary to reverse it.
There are a few different types of surgical gum therapy such as gum grafting and bone grafting.
Cosmetic Gum Therapy
Are you unhappy with your smile? Perhaps your gums rest too low or too high on your teeth. If this is the case, you may be a candidate for gum grafting surgery. With this cosmetic dental procedure, we may be able to even out an uneven gum line and reduce the perceived length of teeth to leave you more confident about revealing your smile.
Placing Dental Implants
The placement of dental implants beneath the gum line as part of the process to replace missing teeth is an element of periodontics. Once a dental implant has been placed, the gums have healed and the dentist has added a tooth replacement, this procedure can be done to provide numerous oral health benefits.