Gum disease affects billions of people all over the world, but the sad thing is most cases of gingivitis and the more serious periodontal disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene.
According to Orange County Dentist Dr. Lindy Beverly, brushing, flossing, a healthy diet, and regular checkups with your dentist can lessen the need for gum treatment.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
You may have gum disease if your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth. If you have swollen gums, or pockets between your teeth and gums it is imperative that you schedule an appointment with Orange Dentist Dr. Lindy Beverly who can prescribe an effective gum treatment that will help reverse your gingivitis or periodontal disease while preventing it from happening in the future. Keep in mind that you may or may not experience pain with gum disease.
Treatments for Gum Disease
Gingivitis-If you have been diagnosed with gingivitis it can usually be reversed. Dr. Beverly recommends:
- Professional Dental Cleanings
- Root Planing and Scaling
- Dental Restorations for Misaligned Teeth or poorly fitting dental restorations
- Ongoing Care
Gingivitis will usually heal after a professional dental cleaning, but you must participate as well. Brush twice, floss once each day, and don’t forget to include a healthy diet and regular checkups with your dentist in Orange County.
Periodontal Disease
If your gingivitis has advanced to periodontitis, you could lose your teeth. Untreated periodontal disease can cause pockets to form between your gums and teeth. When this occurs bacterium, food particles, plaque and tartar, which caused the pockets, in the first place, will continue to seep into your blood stream. Recent studies indicate a link between severe gum disease and other health conditions including dementia.
Treatments for Periodontal Disease
Root scaling and planing can be an effective solution for patients who are in the beginning stages of periodontal disease. However, if the gums are not fitting around your teeth and the pockets continue to develop, pocket reduction may be recommended.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
During pocket reduction, Dr. Beverly and her team will fold back your gum tissue before removing any bacteria. After the pockets have been cleaned, the bone will be smoothed to allow for new gum tissue growth. If the tissue heals properly, the gum will reattach itself to the healthy bone.
Gum Grafts
If your roots are exposed and you suffer from gum recession a gum graft can help cover your exposed roots while reducing sensitivity. A gum graft, which uses your own tissue or tissue from an outside source, is surgically place over the roots of your teeth. This can also help stop bone loss and gum recession in the future.
Regenerative Dental Procedures
Bone grafting is used to promote bone growth in areas of your mouth where there is no bone. Severe Periodontal Disease destroys healthy bone causing the bone to virtually disappear. During the surgery, Orange Coast Cosmetic Dentistry will destroy the bacteria and place synthetic or natural bone where the bone has been lost. Your dentist will also place proteins that stimulate bone and tissue re-growth.