Periodontics
Are you a victim of periodontal disease? Whether they know it or not, nearly 65 billion Americans suffer from gum disease. Finding out if you are one of these individuals is important for your oral health; you will be able to take the appropriate steps before things get worse.
Because around fifty percent of Americans suffer from gum disease, Dr. O’Brien is serious about providing top-of-the-line periodontal treatment at his practice. Our practice can help you reverse the effects of periodontal disease
There are many benefits to gum health besides a good-looking and less painful smile. If your gums are healthy, you will lower your risk for tooth loss, facial collapse, and overall health problems like heart disease.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease involves an infection of the soft tissues in the mouth. Every day, we eat and drink all kinds of things that are broken down by oral bacteria. When bacteria build up on the teeth, it forms a substance called plaque that can cause cavities and infections.
The mouth works hard to fight against the bad bacteria, or plaque. If it’s left untreated, an infection, or gum disease, is the result.
How Do I Prevent Periodontal Disease?
Practicing preventive oral health care at home is the best way to protect your teeth. You should always do your best to prevent gum disease by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist for cleanings regularly. However every mouth is different, and gum disease is always a possibility.
Fortunately, if periodontal disease does become a problem for you, effective treatment methods exist, and we offer some of them at our dental practice.
What Are the Signs of Gum Disease?
As you go through your daily activities, watch out for the following indicators of gum disease:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss them
- Tender, swollen, or red gums
- Gums that are pulling back, or receding, from the tooth
- Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
- Pus around the teeth and gums
- Loose teeth or tooth loss
The earlier gum disease is detected, the more easily it can be treated. This is why it’s critical to see Dr. O’Brien for regular dental examinations.
Steps We Take to Treat Periodontal Disease
The early stages of periodontal disease known as gingivitis can typically be reversed with routine visits to our office to remove build-ups of plaque and tartar and by practicing proper oral health habits at home. This type of cleaning will remove plaque and reduce inflammation.
As gum disease advances it can develop into a more advanced form of periodontitis. At this point, procedures like scaling and root planing are a procedure that we use to treat periodontitis.
Scaling
Dental scaling is a fancy name for a deep cleaning. To perform this procedure, we scrape off the plaque and tartar from the pockets of your gums and above your gum line. This may require a couple of visits to complete depending on the intensity of the infection.
Root Planing
Next is root planing. During advanced stages of periodontitis, your tooth will begin to detach from your gums. We will smooth your tooth root with a special tool to stimulate its reattachment to your gums.
Stay Proactive to Prevent Gum Disease
If you are one of the many patients who suffer from gum disease, our office can provide the periodontic treatments needed to reverse the damage to your oral health. We can use deep cleanings and other methods to quickly restore your gums to their healthiest form.
Your oral health and the health of the rest of your body are all connected. Maintaining healthy gums will help you lead a long, happy, and healthy life.
