Gum
disease, also known as periodontitis in its most advanced stages, may be more
common than you think. Gum disease not only directly affects your gums, but may
also compromise the health of
your teeth. When your oral health habits aren’t sufficiently cleaning your
teeth, or if you’re genetically predisposed to gum disease, you may notice such
symptoms as red or bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums, loose teeth, and
changes in the position of your teeth. If you notice any of these symptoms,
contact your dentist immediately for information about the following
non-surgical treatments:
Professional
Dental Cleaning
If
you’re suffering from a mild form of gum disease, additional visits to your dentist
may be the only treatment you need. At a typical dentist appointment, your
dentist uses professional tools to remove harmful tartar and plaque that have
accumulated on your teeth. Usually, biannual appointments are enough to keep
plaque and tartar from damaging your teeth and gums, but if your dentist
discovers symptoms of gum disease, extra cleanings present a great,
non-surgical way to rid your mouth of bacteria.
Scaling
and Root Planing
If gum disease is more advanced, there are still non-surgical
options available. Scaling and root planing are intense, deep-cleaning
procedures performed by your dentist to remove tartar and plaque. First, your
dentist will administer local anesthetic to ensure your total comfort. Next,
plaque and tartar are scraped from above and below the gum line through a process
called scaling. Finally, the scaled parts of your teeth are smoothed out in a
process called root planing, which allows the gums to safely reattach to your
teeth.
If you
are concerned about the possibility of gum disease, or if you are interested in
learning more about these non-surgical options for gum disease treatment,
contact Dr Alina
Bergan DDS. We provide family and cosmetic dentistry
services for all of your dental needs! Contact us at (800) 223-0801 today!
