Dentist in Kingston Educating Patients on the Progression of Gum Disease and Periodontal Treatment
If you are suffering from advanced gum disease, you are not alone. By the age of 30, half of Americans will suffer from periodontitis. When periodontal disease is left untreated, it can often result in tooth loss, but this does not have to be the case. Dr. Stephen Lawrence and his team at Lawrence Dental in Kingston, PA offer effective periodontal treatment to help make sure that periodontal disease in patients can be fought and teeth be saved.
The Progression of Gum Disease to Periodontitis
Gum disease occurs over time. It progresses to worse stages over time. It’s a sneaky and progressive disease and can end in catastrophic results. Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis. Signs you have gingivitis can include red and swollen gums which bleed when you brush. At this stage, gum disease is easily reversible through improved oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing daily should be able to eliminate gingivitis. A professional dental cleaning from your dentist is also recommended.
If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Untreated buildups of bacterial plaque will not only have a negative impact on the health of your gum tissue but can also affect teeth supporting bone and ligaments as well. As the gum disease spreads to these areas of the mouth, you may notice teeth loosening that may require surgical treatment or removal. The important thing to understand is that periodontal disease never needs to progress this far.
Periodontal Treatments
If you wish to reverse your periodontal disease, it’s critical that plaque and calculus be removed. This can be achieved through scaling and cleanings. Your dentist will recommend an effective treatment plan and many will recommend scaling as a treatment to clean below the gumline. Scaling can be accomplished using hand tools or ultrasonic devices made to break up plaque and calculus.
Another treatment option is root planing. Bacteria can hide within rough patches on the roots of teeth. Root planing is done to smooth these rough areas and reduce the chance of gum disease.
Once you have reversed your periodontal disease, it’s important to keep it from re-occurring. Once of the easiest things you can do is schedule twice a year cleanings at your dentist.
If you are concerned about potential periodontal disease or want to schedule a cleaning, please give Lawrence Dental Group a call at (570) 852-2650 to schedule an appointment.
