Dental Perio Maintenance
Dental Perio Maintenance
Here at 3rd South Dental, we want our patients to be prepared for periodontal disease. The best way to avoid this is with good, diligent oral hygiene habits. However, if you get periodontal disease, we want you to know that we can do something.
We highly recommend staying updated with all of your bi-annual general check-ups. We can check for gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease, at each check-up. See us today for a general check-up in Salt Lake City, Utah!
About Dental Perio Maintenance
Periodontal disease is a gum disease that can create long-term health problems if not taken care of right away. An increasing number of individuals suffer from gum disease symptoms of all stages. Gum disease occurs when bacterial plaque is not removed from the teeth. When bacteria, food particles, and saliva make a sticky, colorless film covering your teeth, the plaque will build. If you don't remove it, the plaque can grow and harden to become tartar that, when neglected, can infect the gums and cause the disease. The infection can lead to gum sensitivity, pain, and long-term health effects.
Symptoms
Early stages of the disease, which normally starts with gingivitis, include:
- Swollen gums that bleed easily.
- Bad breath.
- Pus between the gums or gums that look like they are pulling away from the teeth.
These symptoms can worsen if left untreated and can result in chronic gingivitis, where the roots of your teeth can become exposed by the receding gums, and deep pockets can form in your mouth and cause more decay. When chronic gingivitis advances, it becomes Periodontal disease, resulting in the individual losing gum tissue, bone, and teeth.
What Can Be Done?
Dr. Theurer and Dr. Call can work diligently to prevent, reverse, or offset the damaging effects of Periodontitis. If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, our dentists can diagnose the stage of your condition through x-rays, measuring and checking your gums, as well as examining sensitive teeth.
Treatments
Treatments include professional dental cleanings and a more structured daily oral hygiene regime or changes to the patient's lifestyle and diet in minor cases. Patients may need tissue and bone grafts in advanced cases and other surgical procedures.
Scaling and Root Planing: Scaling is a standard treatment for periodontal disease. It involves deeply cleaning your teeth above and below the surface of the gum line. Your teeth will be polished, and if your gums have come loose from the cleaning, a technique called flap surgery can help tighten them again.
Flap Surgery: Flap surgery is the process of tightening your gums if they have come loose during the cleaning. Keeping your gum line tight against your teeth will help you avoid infection and any issues in the roots of your teeth.
Gum Grafting: If the stage of your periodontal disease is severe, then a gum graft may be required. This process includes removing any dead or infected gum tissue and replacing it with healthy tissue. It is a surgical procedure but brings great and beneficial results.
Are You at Risk?
Certain factors put some individuals at more risk of gum disease than others. For example, smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, poor nutrition, hormone changes, crooked and overlapping teeth, no dental care, and poor saliva production, among other factors, will make it more likely that you get periodontal disease.
If you are in Salt Lake City, Utah, or the surrounding area, don't hesitate to come to see us! The better we can take care of your teeth now, the more likely we can help you avoid periodontal disease. Come to 3rd South Dental today to get help! We want to give you the healthiest smile possible!