Gum disease is a serious oral complication that can develop in the mouth. It must be dealt with in its early stages before it escalates into periodontitis, as it is uncurable at this stage. When a patient is unfortunate enough to suffer from periodontitis, our Dentists can offer periodontal care, a form of treatment that is used to limit the effects of gum disease on their daily life. My Dentist Friend offers periodontal care for those suffering from periodontitis by preventing the further escalation of a patient’s gum disease.
book onlineWhat Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Gum disease in its mildest form is known as gingivitis. Symptoms of gingivitis are sore and reddened gums, bleeding when brushing the teeth, and oral pain. This is usually due to the patient neglecting oral health, and our Dentists will advise brushing twice a day for two minutes to prevent the gum disease from returning. Our team may give the patient a special mouthwash to get rid of current symptoms.
Patients who do not adhere to our Dentists’s advice will develop periodontitis. This form of gum disease is incurable, and the symptoms are worse. Patients can experience pockets developing between the teeth and gum, wobbly teeth and receding gums. These are serious symptoms that require constant care from our Dentists, as frequently as every 3 months. Surgical restorations may also need to take place in order to maintain the vitality of the oral cavity.
What Is the Procedure for Periodontal Care?
The most basic form of periodontal care is not unlike a routine cleaning that you would expect from a regular visit to our office. The only difference is that it is more intense and thorough. Using a scaler, our Dentists will remove any plaque or tartar from our patients’ gums and teeth. Root planing, which involves the smoothing of the gums to discourage bacterial growth, can also be used to prevent the development of periodontitis.
Gum contouring is another form of periodontal care in which the Dentists will remove any diseased tissue. This is moving more towards the invasive forms of periodontal care that also include teeth extraction – if they have become compromised, and bone grafts – if bone loss has been experienced. Care for the teeth must also be done at home, and periodontal care is not enough on its own.
Our Dentists rely on our patients’ keeping up their oral health to prevent the worsening of oral complications. We can advise our patients on the best flossing and brushing techniques to clean their teeth to prevent the buildup of plaque. Keeping to the periodontal care appointments is imperative to our patients’ treatment plan. Neglecting appointments will be detrimental to our patients’ oral health, and possibly to our patients’ overall health, as periodontitis can have negative effects on other parts of the body due to the invading bacteria.
My Dentist Friend takes gum disease seriously, and our team wants to help you from developing periodontitis. Periodontal care is there to prevent the worsening of your condition, and it allows us to educate you on your oral health. To book an appointment with us now, contact our office at 856-484-4114.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontitis is an incurable form of gum disease, and those who suffer from it must undergo periodontal maintenance to prevent the disease from worsening. Periodontal maintenance is a collection of treatments that can be used to discourage the growth of periodontitis and improve the strength of the oral cavity. My Dentist Friend takes periodontitis seriously, and our Dentists are professionally trained to administer periodontal care.
book onlineHow Does Periodontitis Develop?
Periodontitis starts as gingivitis, a milder form of gum disease. This develops by patients neglecting their oral health and not brushing their teeth. Plaque and tartar builds up on the enamel of the teeth, making the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow. Symptoms of gingivitis are bleeding and sore gums, swelling and discoloration of teeth. If this is not treated by an Dentists or oral professional, then it can develop into periodontitis. Gingivitis is curable and reversible, even in its later stages, but once it develops into periodontitis, it is no longer curable. At this point, it can only be maintained. Sometimes, patients will not experience any periodontitis symptoms and can go months without any issues. Symptoms of periodontitis include pockets developing between the gum and teeth, loose teeth, and bone loss. Untreated periodontitis is seriously detrimental to an individual’s oral health.
What Happens During Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance will slightly change every time the patient meets with one of our Dentists, as it will depend on the condition of the patient’s oral cavity. There are some aspects of the procedure that will always happen, though there will be instances where our Dentists may advise more extensive treatment. For example, every time a patient comes into our Dentists’s office – the frequency of which will depend on the patient’s oral condition – the patient can expect to have an intense cleaning. This includes the removal of plaque and tartar – as to be expected from a routine cleaning – as well as the removal of any diseased tissue, and the smoothing of the gums to discourage bacterial growth.
Our Dentists will monitor the gum pockets and inspect the oral cavity for any worsening of the condition. If the periodontitis has been particularly intensive, and the patient is experiencing bone loss or wobbly teeth, then the patient may need surgery. This includes the placing of a bone graft in the jaw if there has been bone resorption. Teeth also may need replacing with restorative appliances such as dental implants.
Periodontal maintenance usually takes place every 3 months in order to keep the effects of periodontitis under control. However, there can be longer stretches between appointments if a patient’s oral health is in good condition. Good oral health habits are crucial to keeping the symptoms of periodontitis from worsening, so patients are urged to brush twice a day and floss daily.
My Dentist Friend offers periodontal care to reduce the recurring symptoms experienced by sufferers of periodontitis, as well as to make daily tasks, like eating and talking, as easy as possible. In many cases, our professionals can reduce the symptoms significantly. Call our office to schedule an exam at 856-484-4114, and our team can help you fight periodontitis.