Do You Have Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a bacterial infection that attacks your gums. As it begins to affect your gums, they’ll start to pull away from your teeth, making your teeth appear larger. Pockets of infection will also develop around the base of your teeth. At Corner Stone Dental, we measure these pockets during your regular checkups.
Pockets measuring more than 3mm indicate the presence of infection, and pockets of 5mm or more are a sign of extensive damage. In these cases, we’ll recommend restorative gum treatment such as scaling and root planing. Deepening pockets create a vicious cycle of periodontal disease, gathering more bacteria and pulling away from the teeth even more.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Depending on the severity of your gum disease, our Swansea dentists will find the perfect remedy for your smile. Treatments include:
Scaling and Root Planing
One effective treatment for gum disease is called scaling and root planing. It’s so painless that patients rarely require a local anesthetic for the procedure. But it’s available for those who want it.
The first part of the procedure is called scaling. We’ll remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your tooth. We may also use an irrigation process that delivers an antimicrobial agent below your gums.
Then we move on to root planing by smoothing out the roots of your teeth so they won’t be as likely to attract bacteria in the future. Clean, smooth root surfaces are less inviting to the dangerous bacteria that cause gum disease.
Laser Treatment
At Corner Stone Dental, we use laser technology to make treatment for periodontal disease safer, faster, and more pleasant for you. Laser therapy also allows us to preserve a greater portion of your healthy gums and it promotes faster healing.
Soft Tissue Grafts
Soft tissue grafts are used to restore growth in gums that are damaged by periodontal disease. We’ll take a small piece of tissue from your soft palate and graft it onto the areas of your gums that need it. This allows your gums to heal from periodontal disease.
Surgery
In cases of advanced gum disease known as periodontitis, we may refer you to a specialist for more advanced treatment. This could involve surgery to reduce the depth of your pockets, making your teeth easier to clean.
Periodontal Maintenance
Once your periodontal disease has been treated, keeping your mouth free of infection is essential. Regular professional cleaning and effective at-home care will help you maintain your periodontal health.
- Periodontal Cleanings: We may ask you to visit our office four times a year for special periodontal cleanings. This will ensure that your mouth and gums are clear of disease and you’re healing properly.
- At-Home Care: Stepping up your level of home care is also important for preserving your gums. Daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing with therapeutic mouthwash will make a big difference in the health of your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Periodontitis is diagnosed during a regular dental check-up. At each check-up, your hygienist or dentist will probe your gums and measure how deep the pockets are. If these periodontal pockets have progressed beyond the normal range, we’ll inform you and talk with you about your treatment options.
Periodontitis can go away with professional treatment, especially if the disease hasn’t progressed very far. The only stage of the disease that can be reversed without professional treatment is gingivitis. If you already have periodontal disease, you’ll need help from us. Severe cases of periodontal disease may require additional treatments and it can be more difficult to recover from.
Your dentist can let you know how severe your periodontal disease is. It can be difficult to tell on your own just how far your infection has progressed, and it’s essential to know which treatment you’ll need to recover from the disease. Generally, periodontal disease is marked by receding gums, persistent bad breath, and tender gums that bleed easily. If you notice these signs, you may have periodontal disease.