The Importance of Periodontal Health
Periodontal or gum disease is an uncomfortable yet common condition that many people will experience during their lifetime. Despite its prevalence, it can wreak havoc on your oral health — it’s actually the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults.
That’s why, at Desert Hills Dental, our team of dental professionals provides periodontal treatments for patients experiencing minor to severe symptoms of periodontal disease. Discover the signs of the condition and learn about periodontal treatments in our guide.
How Periodontal Disease Progresses
The direct causes of periodontal (gum) disease are plaque and tartar. Plaque is a thin, white film that builds up on your teeth. It comes from food, smoke, and mucus and can be removed by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth.
When plaque builds up, it hardens into tartar. This substance can hide in the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, especially in the space between your teeth and gums. The only way to remove it is with professional deep-cleanings.
If built-up plaque and tartar are left untreated, pockets will start to form in your gums. These pockets harbor harmful bacteria that cause gum disease. We recommend visiting our Farmington office for cleanings every six months to eliminate plaque and tartar before they become a problem.
Signs of Periodontal Disease
The symptoms of periodontal disease can begin subtly. However, they’ll become more pronounced as the condition progresses.
The warning signs of periodontal disease include:
- Swollen, tender gums
- Frequent gum bleeding
- Loose and missing teeth
- Widening gaps between teeth
- Persistent toothaches
- Increased teeth and gum sensitivity
Periodontal Treatments at Desert Hills Dental Care
At Desert Hills Dental Care, we’re committed to finding solutions for our patients suffering from periodontal disease. It’s crucial to find treatment as soon as you begin to experience any signs of gum disease, no matter how minor they might seem.
Preventative Dental Care
The best way to prevent gum disease is by visiting our Farmington office twice a year. These semiannual dental appointments allow our experienced dental professionals to clean your teeth thoroughly. They’ll remove excess plaque and tartar before they cause any major dental problems.
Additionally, Dr. Schumacher will examine your teeth and gums, looking for signs of gum disease that you might’ve missed. If we catch it early enough, a professional cleaning can be all it takes to clear up your symptoms. Preventative dental appointments are essential to treat any underlying dental issues early.
Scaling & Root Planing
When a patient’s gum disease has progressed, we use two treatments in conjunction with each other called scaling and root planing. Scaling is a vital first stage of treatment we’ll use to remove bacteria and infection from our patients’ gums.
We’ll follow that treatment with root planing, a process that helps patients’ teeth heal from the infection. Our gentle dental team will smooth out the surfaces of your tooth root, giving bacteria fewer places to hide. Root planing also prevents future infections from occurring below the gum line.
Soft Tissue Laser Technology
Dr. Schumacher is proud to offer innovative laser technology at our Farmington office. Soft tissue laser therapy is the most advanced way to treat and prevent gum disease. We also recommend it because it helps our patients heal faster from infection.
The laser therapy process for gum disease begins with a professional cleaning by one of our experienced dental professionals. Then, we’ll use the laser to eliminate inflamed tissue, plaque, and tartar around your gums. The laser also helps smooth your tooth root and enamel, leaving fewer places for plaque to become trapped and build into tartar.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, periodontal treatments aren’t painful. Our team of talented dentists use anesthetic as necessary to help you feel comfortable and relaxed during your procedures. Certain treatments, such as soft tissue laser treatment, may not even require the use of anesthetic.
The exact cost of your periodontal treatment will vary based on which treatments you undergo, how many sessions you require, and your insurance. We encourage you to call your provider beforehand and ask them which costs they can cover. If you’re struggling to cover your costs, rest assured that we can help. Desert Hills Dental Care offers financing options, including new patient specials and CareCredit.
Healthy gums and sturdy teeth are necessary for braces and other orthodontic treatments like Invisalign® to work. However, once your dentist gets your periodontal disease under control you should be able to receive orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will let you know when orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign might be safe and effective options for you once your periodontal treatment is complete.
While periodontal treatments can help clear up periodontal disease, it can come back as soon as two to four months after treatment. This is why you’ll need to continue to visit our Farmington, NM office for regular maintenance. Our dentists can keep a close eye on your oral health through exams, professionally remove plaque and tartar with cleanings, and recommend at-home care methods for you to follow that can help prevent flare-ups.
Find Relief From Gum Disease Symptoms Today
The symptoms of periodontal disease can manifest subtly at first. But as the disease progresses, the symptoms can grow painful and cause significant oral health damage. That’s why it’s critical to visit our Farmington office right away if you experience any of the symptoms of gum disease, no matter how minor.
Our periodontal treatment options include preventative treatments that eliminate the causes of gum disease before they become problems. If necessary, our experienced dental staff can provide scaling and root planing or laser dental treatments to remove the infection and arrange the tooth roots to help them heal.
Contact our office today by calling (505) 327-4863 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Schumacher. We’ll find a solution that helps relieve your pain and prevent it from coming back.