Periodontal disease can impact teens and adults, and in the late stages could be linked to issues like tooth loss and impacts on your overall health. But we have periodontal services to help treat and manage the issue, keeping your smile whole. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about our periodontal services.
The Causes of Gingivitis and Gum Disease
First, let’s look at the factors that can lead to issues like gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, can occur due to plaque buildup, a sticky layer that coats the teeth as harmful bacteria break down and consume particles of sugar left behind by our meals and drinks. The buildup can be aided by poor brushing and flossing habits, and infrequent visits for professional cleanings. You could also develop inflammation due to certain medications, inflammatory illnesses, tobacco use, or even a family history of poor periodontal health.
Without treatment, gingivitis will increase in severity until the gums pull away for the teeth, forming pockets. When disease-causing bacteria enter these pockets, you develop periodontal disease. This cannot be cured, but treatment to manage it is possible, which prevents you from the stage known as periodontitis. At this stage, the disease destroys the tissues that connect your teeth and gums, causing adult tooth loss.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
You shouldn’t ignore the common symptoms that occur, and should instead talk to our team about possible solutions. For example, you could notice your tissues appear redder than usual. They could feel sore when you brush and floss, and you may encounter bleeding on a regular basis. As the issue grows in severity, you could experience swelling in the tissues. There could also be recession, the tissues moving away from the teeth to make your teeth appear long and uneven. The recession not only means poorer gum health and a greater risk of tooth loss, but also exposes sensitive roots, causing tooth decay And even infection.
Dangers to Your Overall Health
Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, which in turn increases the risk of misalignment, issues with eating and speech, and even the risk of an older appearance. You could also be more vulnerable to inflammatory illnesses, such as type-2 diabetes, and the disease has been linked to memory issues like dementia or even Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t risk tooth loss and major issues with your smile, talk to our team about possible solutions.
Deep Cleanings
In the early stages, our team could conduct a deep cleaning known as a scaling and root planing. This involves our team numbing your smile and removing buildup from the teeth and the roots, and destroying bacterial pockets beneath the gum line. For some, this could take one visit while others may need two to four. We complete the procedure by polishing the teeth to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to them before your next dental cleaning. This can make the disease manageable with preventive care at home and in our office.
Lasers and Grafts
For more advanced cases, we can employ advanced technology. With laser dentistry, we can comfortably and gently remove the diseased parts of your gums, so healthy tissues can adhere to the teeth. We reshape the gum line in the process so your smile is healthier and more attractive. If you have severe recession, then we could discuss grafting to cover the exposed portions of the teeth and reshape the smile in the process. Afterward, we can discuss treatments to manage the issue and keep your smile healthy and whole.
Managing Periodontal Disease
To manage the disease, we could discuss unique medications, better homecare habits, and even regular dental cleanings every three to four months to keep the issue in check and ensure your smile stays comfortable and whole! At home, be sure you brush and floss daily and cut back on foods high in sugar and starch. You should also avoid the use of tobacco products too.
If you have any questions about how we manage issues like gum disease, or if you have symptoms that need attention, then contact our team to get started. We want to help you smile with confidence and avoid issues like tooth loss.
Talk to Your Lake Orion, MI Dentist’s Office About Periodontal Services
Our team is here to help you keep your gums strong and your smile intact, and we can do that with our periodontal services and more. To schedule an appointment for treating your gums call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213!
