At every regular dental hygiene appointment, Dr. Christopher Goelz or Dr. William Jennings will evaluate your gums for gum disease. This screening is vital to oral health as gum disease can lead to tooth loss, bone loss in the jaw, and many other complications. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, requires prompt care. Longview Family Dental provides comprehensive periodontal disease treatment in Longview, TX.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. This oral health condition affects the gum tissues and the bone surrounding the teeth. Poor oral hygiene such as poor tooth brushing, skipping on the floss, and failing to visit the dentist can lead to gum disease.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The main culprit in the development of gum disease is plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. This is also the cause of tooth decay. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel and gum tissues.
The development of gum disease begins when plaque is not removed from teeth. Over time, this plaque can harden into a substance called tartar. Plaque and tartar will attack the gums leading to bleeding and swollen gums. Eventually, this bacterial invasion will also damage the bone surrounding the teeth.
Poor oral hygiene plays a significant role in the development of gum disease. However, other conditions can contribute to gum problems. Genetics, diabetes, and smoking can increase your risk of gum disease. Also, hormone changes, such as being pregnant, can play a significant role in the development of the disease.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a progressive disease. Once you are diagnosed, you must get treatment to prevent worsening symptoms. The stages of gum disease include:
Gingivitis
The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, often gets overlooked. Patients may not be aware of their developing symptoms or simply ignore them because they are not severe. The signs of gingivitis include bleeding, red, and swollen gums.
Your gums may feel irritated or inflamed in general. Bleeding typically occurs when brushing or flossing. Gingivitis is easily treatable. If you attend regular dental appointments, Dr. Goelz or Dr. Jennings will catch early signs of gum disease.
Periodontitis
If gingivitis is not treated, it will progress into periodontitis. This is an advanced stage of gum disease. Most patients know when they reach this stage because the symptoms are more severe and hard to ignore.
Signs of periodontitis include deep pockets along the gum line, severe inflamed gums, and the underlying bone starting to become affected. You will also experience bad breath, receding gums, loose teeth, new spaces developing between your teeth, and a change in how your teeth fit together when you bite.
Advanced Periodontitis
This is the final and most severe stage of gum disease. Advanced periodontitis is a serious disease that results in irreversible damage to your oral health.
Most significantly, there is destruction of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. This stage is marked by deep gum pockets, which leads to severe gum recession. Substantial loss of bone around the teeth and tooth looseness or loss is likely.
Gum surgery is often the only way to treat severe gum disease.
How Do I Know If I Have Gum Disease?
Common signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums (especially when brushing and flossing)
- Swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Gum recession
- Loose teeth
If you notice a change in your gum health, contact our office. We will conduct an oral exam to determine if you have gum disease. First, we will take full-mouth X-rays and perform a periodontal probing.
During the probing, we use a dental instrument to measure the depth of the gum tissue around each tooth. Normal readings range between 1 to 3mm.
Readings over this range indicate the presence of gum disease, which will require treatment. Gum disease is treatable if caught in its early stages.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Longview, TX
We provide multiple gum treatments based on your stage of gum disease:
Professional Dental Cleanings
If you have gingivitis, a thorough teeth cleaning and a commitment to regular dental care will get your oral health back on track. Our dental hygienists perform teeth cleanings during regular dental checkups.
We use stainless steel scrapers to remove food and bacteria from the teeth and gums during a cleaning. Then, we remove bacteria from the tooth’s surface with gritty toothpaste and polishing. This vital treatment removes plaque and tartar that builds up on teeth to prevent gum disease and its progression.
Scaling and Root Planing
For more advanced cases of gum disease, you may need a deep cleaning treatment called scaling and root planing. This deep cleaning also removes tartar from below the gum line.
First, we remove tartar buildup from the gum pockets with a scaler. Then, we will smooth the tooth roots to encourage gum reattachment and prevent further bacterial growth.
A deep cleaning prevents gum recession and tooth loss. If you have reoccurring gum problems, we recommend regular scaling and root planing in our office.
Laser Dentistry
Longview Family Dental also offers laser dentistry for advanced gum disease. Gum disease can leave behind diseased and damaged gum tissue.
Our dentist can use a dental laser to remove this tissue without surgery. Removing the diseased tissue will prevent it from progressing further. Unlike gum surgery, lasers do not make noise or damage surrounding tissue. Lasers use light and heat to gently cut and remove gum tissue.
To learn more about the benefits of using dental lasers to treat gum disease, see Laser Dentistry.
Get Periodontal Disease Treatment in Longview, TX
If you seek expert dental care for gum disease, make an appointment with Dr. Goelz or Dr. Jennings today. Call Longview Family Dental at 903-662-7811 or schedule an appointment online.
Our dentists in Longview, TX, can provide the treatment you need to restore your oral health. Let us know if you have gum problems or questions about your gum disease treatment. We’re here to help.