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What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease infects the teeth's supporting tissues. Typically caused by poor oral hygiene habits that allow plaque to build up on the teeth and harden, the disease eventually impacts the gums.
Left untreated, gum disease may lead to a range of oral health issues, including a receding gum line, inflamed or 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 you're diagnosed with, periodontal treatment methods may change. Our dentists will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your particular case.
Once you've completed your periodontal treatment, our dental team will recommend that you have regular dental examinations and preventive therapy, typically four times a year.
- Preventive Gum Therapy
Preventive therapy is recommended if the disease is caught in its early stages. Routine hygiene cleanings and exams are essential to maintaining oral health.
By practicing excellent oral hygiene at home and eating a balanced diet, you can significantly reduce your chances of ever getting gum disease.
- Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
A deep cleaning completed by a dental hygienist may be enough to reverse mild gum disease. The dental hygienist will scrape away the plaque and tartar surrounding and underneath the gum line. A process called scaling and root planing will be used to smooth any rough areas left behind.
- Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients diagnosed with more advanced forms of gum disease, more invasive surgical treatments may be needed to reverse it.
Gum grafting and bone grafting are two different types of surgical gum therapies.
Cosmetic Gum Therapy
Some patients may be unhappy with their smiles. If your gums rest too high or too low on your teeth, you may be a candidate for gum grafting surgery. This cosmetic dental procedure can help to even out an uneven gum line and decrease the perceived length of the teeth to leave you with a smile you can be proud of.
Placing Dental Implants
Periodontics covers the placement of missing teeth below the gum line as part of the process to replace missing teeth.
The gums heal and a dental implant is placed after a tooth replacement such as a crown or bridge is added. This procedure can provide a number of oral health benefits.