Treatments for Gum Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is an infection affecting the bones and tissues that support and surround the teeth. It can inflict mild to severe damage to the teeth and gums. If caught in its earliest stage, gum disease can be completely eradicated. Left untreated, gum disease will likely cause irreversible damage to the teeth and gums, which often leads to tooth loss.
Our Troy cosmetic dentist utilizes the most advanced technology, including digital x-rays, when examining the gums and teeth of each patient in order to determine the severity of his or her gum disease. This thorough examination enables us to provide the very best treatment plan for each individual patient. We strongly believe in providing fully personalized care that is tailored to the unique dental needs of every patient we treat. At our Troy cosmetic dentistry practice, it is our top priority to ensure the health and beauty of your smile.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease; in this early stage, the gums are affected by gingivitis, but the bones supporting the teeth are not. Some of the symptoms of gingivitis are inflamed gums, bleeding gums (especially when brushing your teeth), tender gums (when touched), gums that appear purple or bright red, and gums that appear shiny. Most of the time, gingivitis is not painful. Because of this, many times patients do not realize they have gingivitis. If properly treated, gingivitis will not progress to more advanced gum disease.
During this early stage, gingivitis can be treated before it can cause permanent damage to the gums and teeth. The best way to prevent gingivitis is to seek regular dental checkups and cleanings, and to always engage in good oral hygiene habits. Most of the time, good oral hygiene habits and professional dental cleanings are enough to rid your mouth of gingivitis. Some excellent and simple ways to ensure the health of your teeth and gums are brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease. This stage of gum disease is quite dangerous and causes irreversible damage to the bones and tissues supporting and surrounding the teeth. It is extremely important to seek treatment for periodontitis because it often leads to the loss of one or more teeth. Some of the symptoms of periodontitis are gums that bleed easily (even when not touched), inflamed gums, receding gums, bad breath, and shifting or loose teeth. Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontitis. Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning treatment that removes plaque and tartar from the deep pockets of the gums, and places the gums snugly against the teeth. When this is not enough to remove the tartar hidden deep within the pockets of the gums, surgical treatments may be necessary. Sadly, many of our Troy patients with advanced gum disease experience tooth loss.
Dental Implants
Many of our patients experience tooth loss at one point or another in their lives. For our patients with advanced gum disease, tooth loss is common. Many times our patients with one or more missing teeth feel insecure and reluctant to smile. Unfortunate, but often true, a gap made by one or more missing teeth can affect the way we smile and how we feel about ourselves. Thankfully, modern dentistry has provided us with reliable, strong, and aesthetically pleasing replacement teeth options. For our patients in Troy, dental implants are often the ideal treatment for replacing missing teeth.
Contact Cosmetic Dentistry Institute Today
To learn more about the treatment options for gum disease, please contact Cosmetic Dentistry Institute today. Serving Troy and its surrounding areas, we are always happy to answer any questions you may have concerning the health and aesthetics of your smile.
