Our periodontist is a specialist who treats conditions and diseases in the gum tissue and periodontal ligament. This includes diagnosing, preventing, and treating gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Our periodontist also performs cosmetic procedures like gum grafts or crown lengthening surgery.
It’s normal to have some bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth. But if you have red, swollen gums that bleed every time you brush or floss, you may be suffering from some form of periodontal disease. You may also experience chronic bad breath, receding gums, loose teeth, pain in your mouth, or even tooth loss.
The earlier we address your gum health problems and start a treatment plan, the better our chance of successfully treating your condition and saving your smile. At Roy Dental, our dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings, antibiotics, scaling, root planing, or other non-surgical treatments to treat your gum disease.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that affects the soft tissue and bones surrounding and supporting your teeth. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which only affects the gums and tissue surrounding them. But if left untreated, the infection will spread to the underlying bone and cause more severe problems.
Symptoms of gum disease include swollen or bleeding gums that are often red. You may also experience bad breath, loose teeth, receding gum lines, or even a change in your bite due to bone loss.
Treatments for Periodontal Disease
The best way to treat gum disease is by keeping up with your oral hygiene routine and seeing our dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and exams. Our dentist may also prescribe preventative treatments such as medications or mouth rinses to help reduce the bacteria in the mouth and prevent infection.
Treatments for periodontal disease will be determined by the cause and the severity of the condition. Some treatments for mild cases of gingivitis include professional teeth cleaning and scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and around the gum line followed by prescription mouthwash to help kill the bacteria in the oral cavity.
For moderate periodontitis, more intensive treatment may be needed, which may include deep cleaning of the teeth and gums through root planing and periodontal surgery to repair damaged tissues. The gums are lifted back and cleaned during surgical therapy before securing the tissue. The bone around the roots of the teeth may also be smoothed down to prevent further damage and infection. Once the initial treatment for periodontal disease is complete, our dentist may recommend using an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help prevent further infection.
Other treatment options for severe forms of periodontitis may include tooth extraction, bone grafting, or other procedures to restore the health of your gums.
To find out if you are suffering from gum disease, contact Roy Dental at 2950 Whipple Ave #9, Redwood City, CA 94062, or call (650) 368-6333. We would be happy to answer any questions about improving your periodontal health.
