Did you know that periodontal disease is the most prevalent disease in America? Research shows that 3 out of 4 adults are affected by gum disease during their lifetime. If caught early, gum disease can be arrested, and sometimes reversed altogether. Our staff devotes time with each and every patient to teach proper and effective home care. Periodontal disease is linked to many chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis. At your initial visit, the condition of your periodontium (gums) will be evaluated and the proper treatment prescribed. Following appropriate therapy, we will continue to assist you with your preventative needs. It will be important for you to maintain regular recare visits as recommended.
Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) is an infection of the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. It is often painless, and you may not be aware that you have a problem until your gums and supporting bone are seriously damaged. The good news is that periodontal disease can often be treated in the early stages with scaling and root planing.
Think of it as if bugs are eating away at the soil around a tree trunk. Eventually, they eat away all of the soil and part of the tree’s roots, causing the tree to collapse.
Diagnosis
During a checkup, one of our amazing hygienists will examine your gums for periodontal problems. An instrument called a periodontal probe is used to gently measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. At the edge of the gumline, healthy gum tissue forms a very shallow, v-shaped groove (called the sulcus) between the tooth and gums. The normal sulcus depth should be 3 millimeters or less. With periodontal disease, the sulcus develops into a deeper pocket that collects more plaque bacteria and is difficult to keep clean.
If gum disease is diagnosed, your hygienist may provide treatment ranging from a simple cleaning to a deep cleaning with anesthesia. We tailor your treatment to your individual needs, and strive to get your mouth in the best condition possible.
Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease:
- Gums that bleed during toothbrushing and flossing
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Loose or separating teeth
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change in the fit of your partial dentures
It is important to realize that it is possible to have periodontal disease with few warning signs.
Prevention
Prevention includes a good daily oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth once a day with floss or another interdental cleaner helps prevent plaque from forming. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are also important.
Treatment
Scaling and root planing is a method of treating periodontal disease when pockets are greater than 3 millimeters. Scaling is used to remove plaque and tartar beneath the gumline. A local anesthetic is typically administered to reduce any discomfort associated with the procedure. Using an instrument called a scaler or ultrasonic cleaner, the hygienist carefully removes plaque and tartar down to the bottom of each periodontal pocket. The tooth’s root surfaces are then smoothed or planed. This allows the gum tissue to heal, and reattach more tightly to the tooth’s surface. It also makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.
Your dentist and/or hygienist may recommend, prescribe or administer medications to help control infection and pain or to facilitate healing. At a follow-up appointment, the hygienist re-evaluates how the gums have healed and how the periodontal pockets have decreased. When pockets greater than 3 mm persist after treatment, additional measures may be needed.
You’ll be given instructions on how to care for your teeth and gums. Maintaining good oral hygiene and continued, sometimes lifelong, follow-up by your dental team are essential to help prevent periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring.
-Ultrasonic Cavitron Machine
This machine is used to clean gross debris off of teeth. It can help you get a deeper cleaning so that your teeth can stay at their healthiest. Our team at Generation Dental Group wants your smile to look beautiful and remain healthy. With the cavitron machine, we can help make that possible.
Arestin:
Long-Term Care
Keep in mind that once you have contracted periodontal disease, you will always have the disease due to the damage that it does to your body. Careful daily hygiene and regular dental visits to clean your pockets are required to keep the bacteria from returning. After the initial dental appointments to remove the bacteria, you will be placed on a regular appointment schedule called “periodontal maintenance” to keep your pockets free of bacteria.