Periodontal disease can form in the smiles of half of adults in the country, and without care to manage it, this could be a major cause of adult tooth loss! But we can help with periodontic care, and we want to talk about when to see us for treatment. In today’s blog, Brooklyn Periodontics and Implantology talks about the causes and warning signs of periodontal disease.
The Causes of Periodontal Disease
What causes periodontal disease? The trouble starts when your gums become inflamed. Also referred to as gingivitis, this can be due to factors like plaque and tartar buildup, which irritates the tissues. The buildup could be the results of issues like excess sugar in your diet or poor brushing and flossing habits. Other factors include tobacco use, a family history of poor gum health, inflammatory illnesses like diabetes, and even the use of certain medications. As part of our approach to periodontic treatment, we will assess the cause and severity of the disease with a detailed examination using digital technology.
The Warning Signs
How do you know if you need periodontic treatment? Look for any changes to your gums, even if these changes appear minor. For example, if you have soreness in your gums or the tissues appear redder than normal, this is cause for concern. If you notice bleeding when you brush and floss, this is also significant and should be addressed right away. As the disease progresses, you could reach a stage in which gum recession occurs, which makes teeth appear long or uneven. Don’t ignore these potential warning signs, come see our team right away for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment options.
The Long-Term Impacts
How does periodontal disease impact your smile in the long-term? As the issue progresses, your discomfort levels could increase. Eventually, the attachment tissues between your teeth and gums could deteriorate, which leads to loose and missing teeth. In fact, this is the number one cause of tooth loss in adulthood. With tooth loss comes an aged appearance and other impacts in your daily life. But we can help with periodontic treatment, which can manage the issue to prevent tooth loss and keep your smile whole and beautiful.
Diagnosis
Our team will start the treatment process with a diagnosis. Our team will use digital x-rays, intraoral cameras, and even 3D cone-beam technology to take detailed images of your bite from multiple angles, so we can assess the presence of the disease and the overall severity. We also look at any damage to underlying bone structure and attachment tissues. With a detailed diagnosis, we can plan treatment in detail, creating a plan that is tailored for your smile specifically, and which brings relief and prevents tooth loss.
Treatment
How do we treat periodontal disease? For the early stages, we can conduct a deep cleaning with an ultrasonic scaling device to remove buildup from the teeth and roots, and from under the gums. We then manage the issue with routine cleanings every few months afterward. If we find the issue in a more severe stage, we could use advanced laser systems to remove the diseased parts of your gums and reshape the tissues in one visit with comfort and precision.
Management
Following treatment, we can use advanced options, like Platelet Rich Plasma to facilitate a fast and effective healing process, so you can return to your normal routine in a shorter timeframe. We then manage the disease moving forward with routine cleanings every three to four months, and discussions about better homecare habits and routines. We can also discuss Ozone Therapy, antimicrobial medications, and more to help ensure healthy gums. Our team wants you to avoid the risk of discomfort and tooth loss!
But! If the disease has already cost you one or more of your natural teeth, then we could place dental implants. These can take on a missing individual tooth or even support a complete set of dentures. In fact, with All-On-Four, we can support a full row of new teeth in only one visit. Our team will then monitor your new teeth to ensure they can last for years to come, possibly decades or a lifetime with proper care and attention.
If you have any questions about periodontic care and implant dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
Brooklyn Periodontics Offers a Way to Improve Periodontal Health
We want to help protect your smile with periodontic care. For more details about how we diagnose and treat issues like periodontal disease, then please call Brooklyn Periodontics & Implantology in Brooklyn, NY at (718) 444-3800 today.
