Gum Disease Treatment
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
Gum disease causes bone loss and pockets to form in the area where the gums have detached from your tooth, due to plaque and tartar (also referred to as calculus) accumulation. To determine if you have gum disease, we will use a thin probe to measure the depth of your gum pockets. A healthy gum pocket should not be deeper than 4mm. Pockets that are between 4-6mm in depth indicate moderate periodontitis, and pockets deeper than 7mm indicate severe periodontitis. If gum disease has developed and is not corrected, the bacterial plaque and calculus will continue to grow, which in turn will cause your gums to detach and eventually cause the supporting bone to deteriorate. This process can lead to eventual tooth loss if not treated.
In addition to the negative impact gum disease has on your oral health, the bacteria and inflammation associated with gum disease can spread throughout the body, which may increase your risk of developing a number of diseases and systemic issues, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
At Northeast Texas Periodontal Specialists, we are committed to providing you with a conservative approach when treating gum disease and will avoid periodontal surgery whenever possible. We often see wonderful results when using the Perioscopy technology as part of our nonsurgical treatment. To learn more about identifying and treating gum disease, please refer to the following. To schedule an appointment for an evaluation, contact our Rockwall office today at (972) 771-8640 or our Paris office at (903) 785-4832.
Gum Disease
Commons Signs
In the early stages of gum disease, you may not exhibit any obvious symptoms, however, as the pockets deepen and gum disease progresses, the following symptoms may occur:
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Pain while chewing
- Tooth sensitivity
- Gum recession
- Loose teeth
If you have noticed any of these symptoms, when suggest you contact our office to make an appointment.
Gum Disease
Risk Factors
One of the biggest factors that can increase your risk of developing gum disease is smoking. Additional factors that may increase your risk include:
- Hormonal changes in women
- Diabetes
- Medications
- Genetic predisposition
How To Avoid
Gum Disease
The best things you can do to avoid developing gum disease is to brush and floss daily and schedule regular checkups every six months. These regular examinations allow us to monitor the health of your gums and teeth and address issues as early as possible. Patients with generally healthy gums and teeth may only require a checkup every six months, whereas patients who are at a greater risk of developing gum disease may need periodontal maintenance every three to four months.
Gum Disease
Treatment Options
To determine what gum disease treatment option is best suited for you, we will perform a comprehensive exam to determine the severity of your gum disease and its underlying cause. This exam will include digital X-rays and measuring the depth of your gum pockets using a thin probe. Once the examination is complete, we will develop a personalized treatment plan and discuss available treatment options. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment options during this time.
Our priority is to provide you with minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. One of the most effective methods for halting and preventing the progression of gum disease is a deep teeth cleaning/scaling and root planing procedure. We often combine this procedure with the Perioscopy to assist in visualizing below the gums and into the pockets. This unique technology magnifies the root surface up to 30X so we are able to clean at a very high level. This procedure involves removing plaque and calculus that has accumulated on the surfaces of your teeth and below your gum line and addressing rough areas, abrasions, or pits in order to inhibit plaque from embedding and multiplying on the surface, and to enhance your gums ability to reattach and heal.
One of the reasons our nonsurgical deep cleanings are so successful in treating moderate and even severe gum disease is because we utilize advanced dental technologies like the perioscope (also called Perioscopy). A perioscope is a tiny video microscope that allows us to closely examine deeply buried deposits of calculus on the tooth roots that would not otherwise be detectable. Because we are able to identify and remove these deposits, we can effectively treat moderate and even severe cases of periodontal disease that would otherwise require surgical intervention. In fact, in many cases the perioscope allows us to achieve even better results than surgery, which does not allow for close examination of your teeth.
If a deep cleaning does not correct your gum disease, or if your gum disease has already progressed to the point of causing issues such as recessed gums or teeth that have become loosened or fallen out, other treatment options may be explored, such as gum grafting, gum surgery, or dental implants.
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