Gum Disease Treatment at Junction Village Dental
Gum disease is a general term that refers to an infection in the gums and bone around your teeth. However, different severities of gingival infections cause various side effects and call for separate types of treatment.
Gingivitis is the earliest onset of gum disease. It usually presents itself as swollen or bleeding gums. You usually see gingivitis in a child that doesn’t brush thoroughly. Fortunately, regular scale and cleans along with improved oral hygiene can reverse gingivitis within a couple of weeks. Unlike advanced gum disease, gingivitis is something that’s completely reversible and doesn’t leave long-lasting damage.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case for severe forms of gum disease, like periodontitis.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease — the most severe form of gum disease — affects both the gum tissues and the underlying bone structure. When it exists, the supportive tissues erode, leading to the following symptoms:
- Gum recession (“long teeth”)
- Tooth mobility
- Gaps between teeth
- Changes in bite alignment
- Halitosis/bad breath
- Heavy bleeding, swelling and tartar buildup
In most cases, periodontal disease is a progressive infection that affects adults. It’s the result of untreated gum infections spreading deeper into the underlying tissues, causing gums to detach from the roots of teeth and the bone around those areas to resorb (shrink). Left untreated, periodontitis will eventually lead to tooth loss.
Please note that if you smoke or use tobacco products, you may not see the same symptoms as someone who does not. Scheduling routine check and cleans will make it possible for us to screen for infections as early as possible, making treatment more effective.
Treatment for Gum Disease
To treat periodontal disease, we need to perform a deep scaling and remove the calcified deposits under your gum tissues. This procedure is not a normal scale and clean. Rather, specialised hand instruments and ultrasonic instrumentation are used, typically with a local anaesthetic to ensure your comfort.
If you have severe periodontal disease with aggressive bone loss, we will refer you to a periodontist (gum specialist) and then work with them to put you on a maintenance protocol to prevent relapse. In most cases, the visits will alternate between our practice and the specialist’s office every four months.
Find Out If You Have a Gum Infection
Has it been longer than six months since your last scale and clean? Do you have chronic bleeding gums or bad breath? Book your next dental exam today. You may need gum disease treatment The Junction.
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* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
