Gum disease, a progressive condition that starts with gingivitis can damage teeth and their supporting structures. Untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and other serious health issues.
The first step in treating gum disease is a special type of cleaning called scaling and root planing. This deep cleaning removes bacteria, plaque, and tartar that regular brushing and flossing can’t reach, and rough spots on the roots are smoothed (planed). It also helps gum tissue heal and reduce pockets.
Prevention
Gum disease can have major health implications not only inside your mouth (pain, bad breath, loose teeth), but also your entire body. Research has linked it to heart disease, diabetes complications and even certain cancers. The best way to prevent gum disease is to practice good oral hygiene and visit the dentist at least twice a year for a dental cleaning and exam.
If you notice signs of gingivitis, we recommend treatment immediately to stop the progress of the bacterial infection and reduce the risk of further damage. Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and is reversible at this point with regular brushing and flossing as well as professional dental cleanings, which remove accumulated plaque and tartar and help your gum tissue heal.
For more advanced gum disease, we may perform a procedure called scaling and root planing to thoroughly clean your tooth surfaces and roots above and below the gum line. This involves the mechanical removal of bacteria, plaque and tartar with hand instruments or an ultrasonic device and can be done with numbing agents for your comfort. We may also perform a soft tissue graft to reinforce thin gums, cover exposed roots and improve your smile’s appearance. In severe cases of periodontitis, a surgical intervention is required to remove hardened plaque and infected tissues and to restore the bone around your teeth.
Early Detection
In the absence of proper dental care, seemingly minor gum disease symptoms like bleeding while brushing or flossing and red and inflamed gums will progress into more serious problems. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis where the bone and fibers that support teeth are irreversibly damaged. This advanced stage of gum disease can lead to loose or even lost teeth and serious health problems like heart attack, stroke and diabetes complications.
To prevent the progression of gum disease, routine oral care at home, including brushing, flossing and using mouthwash daily is critical. Regular visits to a dentist for cleanings, which remove accumulated tartar and bacteria and help identify early signs of gum disease, are also important.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and can be reversed with improved oral hygiene, routine professional cleanings and other treatment options. These treatments include scaling, where a special tool or ultrasonic cleaning device removes the hardened plaque and bacteria from the tooth surface and below the gum line. The rough surfaces of the tooth and root are then smoothed (planed) to help your gum tissue reattach to your teeth. Antibiotics may be used as well to control bacterial infection and promote healing. Bone grafts may be recommended to repair areas of destroyed bone and reduce the risk of future loose teeth.
Non-Surgical Treatment
If you develop gum disease, your dentist has many non-surgical options available to treat your infection and restore the health of your gums. Your treatment will largely depend on the extent of your gum infection, but in general the goal of gum disease treatment Glendale AZ is to eliminate bacteria, shrink pockets of infection around teeth, and stimulate healthy tissue growth. The sooner gum disease is treated, the better chance you have of preventing serious oral health problems that can impact other parts of your body.
Non-surgical gum disease treatment Glendale AZ typically include dental cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your dentist removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line as well as smoothes rough areas on or near tooth roots where bacteria often lodge. This is done with local anesthetic to minimize discomfort.
Antibiotic medications can be taken orally or applied directly to infected gum pockets to reduce harmful bacteria and jumpstart the healing process. Oral rinses are also used to control the spread of bacteria and help with pain and swelling. To prevent gum disease from returning, patients should schedule regular quarterly visits with their dentists to clean their teeth and assess the state of their gums. This helps keep bacteria under control and can identify any signs of early gum disease.