Periodontics

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque. Plaque is the sticky substance that forms on your teeth soon after you have brushed. In an effort to get rid of the bacteria, the cells of your immune system release substances that inflame and damage the gums, periodontal ligament or alveolar bone. This leads to swollen, bleeding gums, a sign of gingivitis (the earliest stage of periodontal disease). Damage from periodontal disease also can cause teeth to become loose. This is a sign of severe periodontitis (the advanced stage of disease).

You can prevent periodontal disease by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly. Most people should see the dentist about once every six months. But if you already have gum disease you should visit more often.

 

How is Gum Disease Prevent?

Daily brushing and flossing, when done correctly, can help to remove most of the plaque from your teeth. Professional cleanings by your dentist or dental hygienist will keep plaque under control in places that are harder for a toothbrush or floss to reach.

If oral hygiene slips or you skip dental visits, plaque builds up on the teeth. Eventually, it spreads below the gum line. The bacteria are protected there because your toothbrush can't reach them. If plaque is not removed, the bacteria will continue to multiply. This will cause a more serious infection.

The buildup of plaque below the gumline causes the gums to become inflamed. As the gums swell, they detach from the tooth. This process forms a space, or "pocket," between the tooth and gum. Bacteria can grow rapidly in the pockets. This encourages further plaque buildup.

If left untreated, periodontal disease may spread to the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These structures support your teeth. Periodontal disease can destroy them.

Another reason to remove plaque promptly is that over time it becomes hardened or calcified and turns into calculus. This is commonly called tartar. Even more plaque attaches to calculus because it's a rougher surface than tooth enamel. It's also rougher than cementum, a layer that covers the tooth root. Layers of calculus and plaque build up, in a downward spiral.

Treatment

When you visit us for routine dental checkups or with the early signs of gum disease, we will evaluate your gums and teeth using X-rays. If our doctor suspects that you have gum disease, we will do a deep cleaning procedure to restore your gum health. Deep cleaning process involves scaling and root planing and can effectively treat gingivitis or the early stage of gum disease. 

Scaling and root planing are much like regular teeth cleaning, but the process is done more in-depth. Scaling involves scraping off the accumulated plaque and tartar from the gum line. Root planing eliminates rough spots present on the tooth root's surface, preventing the bacteria from grabbing onto the tooth. Patients are likely to experience slight discomfort during and after undergoing the deep cleaning procedure. Therefore, our dentist will deep clean your teeth and gums on one side during your first visit and allow it to heal before scheduling your next appointment to deep clean the other side. On average, it takes almost from 5 to 7 days for the gums to recover after a deep cleaning process.

While your mouth heals, you might experience slight bleeding, swelling of the gums, and increased tooth sensitivity. Avoid intake of hot, cold, or sweet foods and beverages during the healing process to minimize the discomfort.

Four weeks later, we will schedule a follow-up appointment to analyze the progress of the treatment and assess the size of the gum pockets. During the follow-up session with us, we will assess your condition to prevent the risk of infection. Besides, depending on your improvement, we will decide on the further course of treatment. Regular visits to your general dentist may help them understand if you are on the verge of progressive gum disease. In that case, we may use periodontal maintenance or deep cleaning to keep the signs at bay. If you need more help to combat the condition, we will refer you to a periodontist. If your gums have healed, we will schedule a recall after 3-4 months.