Gum Disease Treatment
Gum Disease Treatment
Gum Disease Treatment – What to Expect
Did you know that gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults? We regularly carry out gum disease treatment at our dental practice, yet the fact is that gum disease can be easily prevented.
It’s not natural for gums to be red nor should they bleed when you brush them or bite into crunchy foods. If this is happening to you, then there’s a good chance that you have gum disease. Bad breath is often also linked to gum disease.
Gum Disease – What Is It Exactly?
Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums caused by the build-up of bacteria-laden plaque. In its early stages, gingivitis (as it is known) can be easily reversed by improving your oral health.
However, if gum disease is not treated, it can quickly escalate into a more severe condition known as periodontal disease.
Gum disease won’t go away on its own and once it progresses to periodontal disease you risk bone erosion and eventual tooth loss, not to mention problems with chewing, bad breath and eating. Furthermore, periodontal disease has been linked to medical conditions such as heart disease and strokes.
People who suffer from high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and those with a poor diet are at high risk of developing periodontal disease.
Gum Disease Treatment – What’s Involved?
Wherever possible, our dentist aims for a non-invasive approach to gum disease treatment. This can be achieved by good oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and comprehensive scale and cleans.
That said, when gum disease has progressed into periodontal disease, it typically calls for more stringent measures to treat the irreversible effects. These include:
- Deep cleaning and scaling of the teeth to remove tartar and calculus
- Root planing to smooth the tooth roots so that bacteria can’t attach
- Crown lengthening procedures
- Bone grafts
- Gum pocket reduction
- Regenerative procedures
- Diet advice
Our caring and experienced dentist will discuss the best treatment methods for gum disease and periodontal disease during your initial consultation.
Do you have gum disease?
Gum disease doesn’t always cause pain, so you may not know you have it. This is why it’s so important to attend regular check-ups with our dentist.