When Periodontal Treatment May Be Recommended

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. It is caused by bacteria in the mouth infecting gum tissues. This occurs when plaque and tartar make their way below the gumline. Plaque is the sticky film that makes your mouth sticky when you get up in the morning or after a nap. Brushing and flossing help to remove plaque from teeth surfaces.

Some of the symptoms that indicate it is time to seek dental care for gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums
• Tender or discolored gums
• Inflamed gum tissues
• Spaces forming between teeth
• Pus coming from the base of teeth
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Receding gums

Tartar is what plaque turns into when left on teeth surfaces for a few days. It is too hard to be removed by brushing or flossing. A dentist gets rid of it with a metal tool known as a scaler during teeth cleanings.

Figuring out if you need treatment for periodontal disease

Periodontal disease occurs in two distinct stages. The first stage is gingivitis, and it can be reversed with improvements to the patient’s oral hygiene and teeth cleanings. Deep cleaning might be recommended if the dentist has doubts about the patient’s commitment to oral hygiene.

Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of gum disease. At this point, the infection in the patient’s gum tissues is chronic, and it can only be managed with dental treatments. Periodontitis has been linked to serious health issues like diabetes, pneumonia, and heart disease. It causes permanent damage to the bone and gum structures in the mouth, creating oral problems like spaces forming between teeth, teeth becoming loose, and teeth falling out of the patient’s mouth.

Some of the treatments a dentist might recommend to help address gum disease include:

• Root scaling and planing: This is a more comprehensive version of routine teeth cleaning. It involves removing tartar from teeth surfaces and their roots. It also includes polishing teeth roots to make it easier for gum tissues to stick to them and reduce future tartar build. Also known as deep cleaning, the procedure helps to slow down the progression of gum disease, and it can sometimes serve as a treatment for receding gums
• Gum flap surgery: This procedure is used to remove tartar and plaque from gum pockets. It involves making small incisions into the patient’s gum tissues so their gum pockets can be opened up. Plaque and tartar are removed along with any infected tissues. Teeth roots are cleaned if needed
• Gum grafts: This typically involves removing healthy donor tissues from the floor or roof of the patient’s mouth and using it to cover up exposed teeth roots. It is often performed to address receding gums
• Bone grafts: This involves using donor or artificial grafting materials to stimulate the production of healthy bone tissues in the patient’s mouth. It can be used to repair damaged bone structures in the mouth

Get treatment for gum disease

Noticed any of the symptoms of gum disease like bleeding, receding, or inflamed gums? Give us a call or visit our Huntsville clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://balmoraldentalcenter.com or call Balmoral Dental Center at (256) 660-3094 for an appointment in our Huntsville office.

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