Periodontal Disease Treatment

Did you know that an estimated 75% of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease? In fact, many of those who have periodontitis are not aware of it, as many often don’t exhibit symptoms; yet, if left untreated, gum disease can cause serious health issues, as well as loss of teeth. This is why we strongly recommend getting regular preventative check-ups at Beverly Smiles Family Dental Care. With early diagnosis and treatment, we can help you to prevent this largely avoidable issue.

Diagnosing Gum Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is a result of bacteria found in lingering dental plaque. It begins as an infection of the gums (commonly known as gingivitis) and, if left untreated, progresses over time to become periodontitis. Gum disease can cause a number of serious health issues. It not only attacks the gums, but it can also lead to heart disease, stroke, tooth loss, respiratory disease, complications with diabetes, and even premature birth.

So how do you know if you’re at risk for gum disease? The earliest sign of gingivitis is bleeding gums during brushing and flossing. You also might be at risk as a result of any of the following factors:

• Bacterial Plaque Buildup
• Stress
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Certain Medications
• Genetics
• Hormonal Fluctuations
• Poor Nutrition
• Grinding or Clenching One’s Teeth

Even if you experience one or more of the above symptoms, don’t worry. Gum disease is largely treatable if caught early. To begin your treatment, we strongly recommend visiting our office in Chicago for a check-up.

Treating Gum Disease

We offer a number of services that can help you to target and treat your gum disease. Our treatment often varies depending on how far the illness has progressed. Some of our services include:

• Scaling and Root Planing (Non-Surgical) – This treatment involves a deep cleaning procedure that will remove the problematic plaque and tartar from your gum tissues. We will thoroughly clean your teeth’s enamel and roots, as well as the pockets in the gums. We may prescribe an antibiotic to aid in your recovery.
• Pocket Reduction (Surgical) – In some cases, removing the plaque buildup from the pockets of the gums might require surgical methods for complete removal. In these instances, we will perform a pocket reduction surgery, in which we fold back the tissue to remove bacteria hidden in deeper pockets of your gums.
• Gum Graft (Surgical) – If the periodontal disease has progressed enough to cause the gums to recede, it may be necessary to cover the point of decay with tissue from either your palate or a donor.

We will cater your treatment specifically to your case, so you can get the best possible results. If caught early, we can even reverse the damage that may have been caused by gum disease so your mouth can look and feel healthier.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

You might be wondering how you can prevent gum disease entirely. Luckily, preventing gum disease is actually quite simple. Just follow these steps:

• Brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly. Gum disease is caused by plaque buildup, so brushing your teeth regularly will help you to reduce these harmful bacteria.
• Floss consistently. We recommend flossing at least once a day to remove the plaque that might be building up in the gum line.
• Use mouthwash to get the hard-to-reach places. Flossing and brushing doesn’t always catch everything. By using mouthwash, you can remove any hidden food particles that cause plaque.

Preventing gum disease is easy—it just takes one dental check-up to start getting on the right track. To schedule your visit to Beverly Smiles Family Dental Care, give us a call today.