Periodontal disease is a very widespread and serious oral health issue, one that impacts millions of smiles in this country. Without treatment to manage it, you risk the loss of your natural teeth! But we can help. In today’s blog, your Brooklyn, NY, periodontist and implant expert explains how we diagnose and treat gum disease.
The Causes of Poor Gum Health
What causes poor gum health? Often, when we eat a diet high in sugar and don’t brush and floss properly this could leave behind layers of plaque and tartar, which irritates and inflames the gums. For others, a family history of periodontal issues could be responsible, as could inflammatory illnesses or the use of certain medications. Tobacco products could also lead to poor gum health, as could a lack of professional cleanings every few months. These factors irritate the tissues to cause gingivitis, and without treatment to reverse gingivitis, this could allow the tissues to pull away from the teeth and form pockets for disease-causing bacteria to enter, leading to periodontal disease. At this stage, the disease cannot be cured, but we can manage it with treatment to keep your smile whole!
The Warning Signs
When should you make an appointment with a periodontist? You should contact us for an exam when you notice any changes to your gums. For example, if they look redder than usual, feel sore, or if they bleed easily. There could also be swelling. As the disease increases in severity, there could be recession that makes teeth appear longer and uneven. At this stage, you could develop tooth decay and infection due to the exposed roots, and you could be more susceptible to periodontitis, the advanced stage linked to adult tooth loss. Don’t ignore these changes and potential warning signs, contact our team right away for care.
Diagnostic with Digital Imaging
When we see you, we will take a close look at your smile with advanced digital imaging. Digital x-rays and CBCT imaging enable us to closely look at your gums for signs of disease, and to also look for any damage to underlying connective tissues or bone structures. Our team can then assess the cause and severity of the issues, and also find any damage that may need repair. With this information, we can create a treatment plan to manage your disease and keep your smile intact!
Planning Treatment
The care we offer will depend on the state of your smile. We have more preventive options, and we have advanced laser treatments, to help improve the appearance and health of your smile. Every smile is unique, and we personalized our care for our patients.
Scaling and Root Planing
If we catch the issue in the early stages, then our team could conduct a deep cleaning to make it manageable. With a scaling and root planing, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently and thoroughly break up and remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, roots, and from beneath the gum line. The procedure is more involved than a traditional cleaning, so we will numb your smile. This could take one visit or as many as four, depending on the extent of the buildup. We will polish the teeth afterward to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate before you see us again. This also brightens your smile! Afterward, we will help manage the issue with traditional cleanings every three to four months.
Dental Lasers
If you have a more advanced stage of the disease, then our team could help with laser dentistry. With dental lasers, we will be able to gently trim away the diseased portions of your gums, so that healthy tissues can attach to the teeth and reduce the depth of periodontal pockets. Lasers can also reshape the gum line. We could then follow-up the treatment with procedures like Platelet Rich Plasma, which can help repair damaged connective tissues and bone structures.
If you have any questions about how our team will safeguard your smile with laser dentistry and other periodontic treatments, then contact our office today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a full and beautiful smile!
Schedule Your Periodontal Treatment At Brooklyn Periodontics
We would like to diagnose and treat your periodontal concerns so you can maintain a full smile. To find out more about us or to schedule a consultation, please call Brooklyn Periodontics & Implantology in Brooklyn, NY at (718) 444-3800 today.
