Periodontal Treatment to Get Rid of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a problem a number of our patients encounter here at Alaska Dental Associates in Anchorage. Periodontal treatment is needed to treat the disease, and our dentist Dr. Kyle Triggs has extensive experience in treating it.
Gum disease occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene. Plaque continues to build up and eventually infect your gums, resulting in the periodontal disease. Left unchecked, this disorder can destroy your gum tissue, and can cause tooth loss. Even worse, it can result in bone loss in your jaw, as well as tooth loss, and gum tissue recession.
If you are dealing with gum disease, periodontal therapy is recommended. There are different treatments for gum disease, depending on how severe the condition is in your case.
What Are Some Signs That I Need Periodontal Treatment in Anchorage?
There are several signs that can indicate that you have periodontal disease. The first sign involves your gums. If they are swollen, tender or red, then you could have gum disease.
Other serious symptoms include if you have loose teeth, have pain when you chew, persistent bad breath, and your gums are starting to pull away from your teeth. These are all signs of trouble.
If symptoms get worse beyond this, you will likely experience loss of bone in your jaw or loss of one or more of your teeth. Serious stages of the disease means the periodontal therapy will be more involved. This is the main reason you want to have it checked in its early stages. The treatment is far less significant, compared to what may be required in advanced stages.
Whether you have the more advanced symptoms or not, it’s in your best interest to call us for an exam appointment as soon as possible to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
What are the Different Treatments for Periodontal Disease?
Each patient will have different needs and treatments, depending on the symptoms and severity. Here are two common treatments for periodontal disease:
Scaling and Root Planning
Scaling involves scratching the tooth at the gum line to clean plaque away from the gums and teeth. Root planning involves the smoothing the root of the tooth, inviting the gum to reattach to your teeth.
Full Mouth Debridement
Full mouth debridement picks up where a regular cleaning leaves off. This is a more aggressive cleaning, because it involves removing an extreme buildup of plaque, one that just cannot be done with a regular cleaning.
Conclusion
Regular brushing and flossing will help prevent gum disease. However, sometimes there are other reasons for gum disease that regular family dentistry can’t fix.
The earlier you identify symptoms, the better. If your gums are swollen or red, this should prompt you to visit us in our office. If your symptoms have advanced to gum recession, loose teeth or pain chewing, do not wait any longer. These can turn into worse conditions, making your overall dental health situation far worse than when it began.
Periodontal therapy will help you to effectively combat gum disease. Our team can examine the problem thoroughly so we know what level of treatment is appropriate for you.
Gum disease can be reversed, but it starts with your visit to our office. Call us right away so we can schedule your appointment.