Protecting For Your Gums With Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal disease is common, easy to miss, and the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. However, taking the proper steps in the right amount of time can help you save your smile from this common infection. Our Sacramento restorative dentist Dr. A. Scott Grivas III offers periodontal disease treatment to help protect and repair your gums and keep your mouth healthy.
What is Periodontal Disease Treatment?
Periodontal disease treatment, also known as periodontal therapy, refers to methods your dentist can use to treat periodontal or gum disease. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue, which eats away at the soft tissues and supporting structures in your mouth. Our goal is to control and eliminate infection to improve and maintain the health of your gums and teeth.
Causes of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is caused by bacterial build-ups, such as plaque. Plaque is a yellowish or off-white substance composed of bacteria and food particles. If left alone, it can harden in tartar, which can only be removed with professional dental cleanings.
The bacteria in plaque and tartar feed on the sugars in the food you eat, producing acid as waste. The bacteria erode and infect the gum tissue, doing more damage the farther along it progresses. The most common reason for this infectious bacterial build-up is lack of oral hygiene, but it can also be caused by:
- Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis
- Sugar-rich diets
- Tobacco products
- Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism)
- Certain medications
- Malnutrition
- Stress
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease. It’s the easiest to treat, but also the easiest to miss. During this stage of periodontal treatment, you can treat and even reverse the symptoms with better oral hygiene and maybe a few extra dental exams.
The problem is that gingivitis may not even cause any noticeable symptoms. Unfortunately, patients are less likely to seek an accurate diagnosis from their dental professional or improve their dental hygiene. The lack of intervention at this early stage often allows the disease to progress to initial periodontitis.
Initial Periodontitis
Initial periodontitis is the next stage, where the infection begins to attack the soft tissues and bone supporting the teeth. At this stage, any damage is irreversible, although it should still be minimal.
Moderate Periodontitis
Moderate periodontitis is very similar to the previous stage, except that the bacteria can enter your bloodstream. From there, the infection can reach other parts of your body and cause problems such as heart disease.
Advanced Periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis is the most destructive stage of gum disease, where your teeth are in danger of falling out. Advanced periodontitis comes with more severe, easy-to-notice symptoms such as loose teeth and constant pain.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Your Sacramento dentist believes recognizing the signs is one of the best ways to combat periodontal disease. Once you understand what’s happening to your oral health, you can take the steps to get effective treatment and restore your smile. Symptoms of periodontal disease differ based on the different stages as well as the individual, but common signs to look out for include:
- Loose teeth
- Bite changes
- Dentures or bridges not fitting correctly
- Defective fillings
- Chronic bad breath
- Metal taste in your mouth
- Pus between gums/teeth
- Sores that don’t improve after two weeks
- Tender or swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Gum recession
If you believe you’ve noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact our Sacramento dental office as soon as possible by dialing (916) 929-9222. Dr. Grivas will provide an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options such as professional dental cleanings, and laser-assisted scaling and root planing.
Periodontal Disease Therapy Options
Professional Cleanings
In the earlier stages of periodontal disease, a routine professional dental cleaning can help remove bacteria and improve your smile. During a professional cleaning, Dr. Grivas will remove plaque and tartar from places toothbrushes and floss can’t normally reach. If you don’t have periodontal disease, routine cleanings are a vital part of preventing infection altogether.
Laser-Assisted (LANAP) Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are dual processes for deep cleaning your teeth during more advanced stages of periodontal disease. During the scaling phase, Dr. Grivas will remove the excess plaque and tartar from beneath your gum line and around your teeth. In the root planing phase, we’ll smooth your roots to help prevent bacteria from reaccumulating and help your gums reattach to your teeth.
What makes laser-assisted scaling and root planing with LANAP different is the power of laser dentistry. Using the LANAP soft-tissue laser for the deep cleaning process results in some of the following benefits:
- Better healing
- Less trauma to surrounding tissue
- Enhanced disinfection
- High precision
- More effectively removes disease tissues
- Little to no pain
- Reduced bleeding
- Eliminating the need for sutures
Frequently Asked Questions
Your insurance provider should at least partially cover the periodontal therapy costs. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider before your treatment takes place to confirm which costs they’ll cover. To help our patients affordably care for their gums, we can provide flexible financing options, including third-party financing through CareCredit and LendingClub. We also offer patient specials that may help further reduce your costs.
Periodontal disease usually isn’t life-threatening, especially not in the earlier stages. However, periodontal disease can make you more vulnerable and lead to other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. This vulnerability increases the longer the disease goes untreated. This is why seeking effective treatment as soon as possible is so vital to your oral and overall health.
You shouldn’t try to treat your periodontal disease without seeking professional help. It’s easy to miss signs of periodontal disease, especially in the early stages. You may think you’ve gotten rid of it only for the disease to worsen. Your dental professional can provide treatments and advice that address the root of the problem, helping to ensure your infection is thoroughly under control.
Periodontal disease can be reversed in the earliest stage of gingivitis. Usually, all it takes at the beginning stages is better oral hygiene and a few routine cleanings with your dentist. However, the damage can’t be reversed once periodontal disease has advanced to periodontitis. If you want to potentially reverse your periodontal disease, be on the lookout for symptoms and contact our dental office if you notice anything amiss.
Keep Your Gums Strong With Periodontal Disease Treatment
With the right treatment, Dr. Grivas can control or even eliminate your periodontal disease, improving and maintaining the health of your gums and your entire smile. We offer periodontal disease treatment to patients in Sacramento and surrounding areas such as West Sacramento, Florin, Rosemont, and La Riviera, CA.
If you think you may be suffering from periodontal disease or are interested in preventing infection, contact our Sacramento dental office by dialing (916) 929-9222. You can also fill out the contact form below, and one of our friendly team members will schedule your consultation with our restorative dentist.
