Your gums keep your smile whole and have a major impact on the appearance of your smile too. Which is why good gum health is so vital for your oral health. We provide periodontal care to help safeguard your gums against issues like inflammation and disease. Our Oklahoma City, OK, dental practice discusses our approach to periodontal care.
Gum Disease and Tooth Loss
Gum disease is a widespread concern, one that according to studies from the Centers for Disease Control impacts half of adults ages 30 and older. The disease is brought on by untreated inflammation, also known as gingivitis, which can cause the tissues to become inflamed and pull away from the teeth, forming pockets for disease-causing bacteria to enter. You may experience sore, red gums that bleed, or even swelling. Recession could occur too, which makes teeth appear long and uneven. Over enough time, this could lead to periodontitis, a stage linked to adult tooth loss. But with proper care at the first signs of trouble, we can manage the disease and keep your smile whole.
Deep Cleanings
For the early stages of the disease, we can conduct a scaling and root planing, in which we remove all plaque and tartar from both the teeth and the roots with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. For some, this could take one visit, while others may need more than one. We numb the area to keep you comfortable and polish the teeth afterward. Moving forward, we could administer traditional cleanings every three to four months to manage the issue and prevent periodontitis.
Other Treatment Options
Our team could also recommend antibiotics to destroy the disease-causing bacteria and help protect the gums, and this is sometimes prescribed in the form of special mouthwashes or topical treatments. If you have more severe cases of the disease, we could recommend surgery to gently remove the diseased portions of the gums so that healthy tissues can attach to the teeth and make the disease more manageable with a preventive approach. We could repair any damage to the bone structure with a grafting procedure as well.
If you have any questions about our approach to periodontal care, or if you would like to schedule a consultation so we can look at the symptoms you’re experiencing, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a whole and healthy smile, one free of discomfort.
Talk To Your Oklahoma City, OK Dentist About Periodontal Care
We provide care to help your gums stay healthy and strong for years to come with our periodontal treatments. If you would like to find out more about periodontal care, then call our Oklahoma City, OK dental practice at (405) 752-0111.
