Periodontal disease is very widespread. In fact, studies from the Centers for Disease Control reveal half of adults ages 30 and older suffer from the disease. Without treatment, this could lead to the loss of adult teeth! In today’s blog, your Brooklyn, NY, periodontist and implant expert talks about protecting smiles with periodontics, so you can enjoy good gum health and avoid complications like tooth loss.
The Onset of Gum Disease
How does a smile develop gum disease? Various factors could be in play. For example, poor brushing and flossing habits and a diet high in sugar and starch could lead to plaque and tartar buildup. The buildup then irritates and inflames the gums to cause gingivitis and eventually, gum disease. Other factors include tobacco use, inflammatory illnesses, certain medications, and a family history of the disease. As part of your treatment, we will examine your smile to assess the cause and extent of periodontal disease, so that we can offer a treatment plan to manage it and protect your smile from serious risks!
The Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
How do you know if you have periodontal disease? Common symptoms include sore and red gums. You could experience bleeding when you brush and floss too. People may experience swelling in the gums, or even recession that makes teeth appear longer. Don’t ignore changes to your gums, contact our team right away for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment.
The Risks for Your Smile
Without treatment, the disease will increase in severity with time, and eventually could reach a stage known as periodontitis. At this stage, you not only experience discomfort and recession, but the connective tissues between your teeth and gums could be severed, which leads to loose and missing teeth. In fact, this is the number one cause of adult tooth loss!
The Diagnostic Process
To conduct a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, our team will employ advanced digital x-rays and CT imaging. This technology enables our team to look closely at the smile, using 90% less radiation and providing high-definition images instantly chairside, no need for bitewings or lengthy wait times. Our team can look at the state of your underlying connective tissues and bone structure, and your gums themselves, for signs of inflammation and disease. With an accurate gauge of the state of your smile, we can create a treatment plan to bring relief and manage the disease so your smile stays healthy and whole.
Deep Cleanings
If we catch periodontal disease in the early stages, then we could offer a deep cleaning to manage it. Also known as a scaling and root planing, this involves removing harmful plaque and tartar from your teeth and exposed roots with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. This could take one visit or up to four, it all depends on the severity of your buildup. We then polish the teeth for a brighter smile and to limit the ability for plaque and tartar to develop. Inflammation can then be controlled with traditional cleanings every three to four months.
Laser Treatment
If you have a more severe stage of the disease, then we could offer relief with dental lasers. We have procedures like LANAP, REPAIR with WaterLase, and LAPIP, which allow us to target soft tissues and remove the diseased portions, so healthy tissues can attach to the teeth. This also destroys harmful bacteria, and can even aid in the placement of dental implants. Lasers provide unrivaled precision and limit the risk of bleeding, infection, and swelling. You also rarely require anesthesia, and the heals quickly, so you can return to your normal routine in as little as a day or two.
Healing Your Smile
Our team can also offer treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma, a special autoplasm that we inject in the treated areas to help the connective tissues and gums heal faster. This also helps with the placement of dental implants to help the area heal so we can move forward with attaching a restoration or prosthetic, completing your smile.
If you have any questions about how we use periodontic treatment to manage and address gum disease, then contact our team today. We want to help your smile stay healthy and strong, so you avoid tooth loss and discomfort.
Schedule a Periodontal Visit with the Team at Brooklyn Periodontics
Periodontal treatment can help you smile with confidence again! To find out more about protecting your oral health and smile stability, or to schedule a consultation, please call Brooklyn Periodontics & Implantology in Brooklyn, NY at (718) 444-3800 today.
