16
Aug
Periodontal Treatment Helps You Achieve Optimal Gum Health and Overall Wellness
A beautiful smile is more than white, straight teeth. The importance of gum health is often overlooked, yet gums are crucial in holding teeth in place. If the foundation isn’t solid, your smile will not last.
Because the mouth is part of your body, gum disease shouldn’t be considered a localized oral problem but a systematic disease. David A. Goodman, DMD Alan C. Ko, DMD, offers periodontal therapy in Milford, Massachusetts, to prevent, detect, and treat gum disease for optimal health.
How does periodontal disease develop?
Gum disease can develop in individuals who do not maintain optimal oral hygiene. When teeth are not brushed or flossed properly, food debris can accumulate, attracting harmful bacteria in the mouth. Over time, a sticky, colorless film (plaque or oral microfilm) gathers in your mouth and calcifies into stubborn tartar (dental calculus).
Unwanted bacteria in plaque and tartar can colonize the tissues of your gums. At the earliest stage of gum disease (gingivitis), the infection is just at the surface of the gums and often causes gum tenderness, redness, and bleeding.
Left unchecked, gingivitis attacks the tissues beneath the gum line, causing deep periodontal pockets between teeth and gums. Over time, harmful bacteria and deposits can damage and destroy the structures supporting the teeth, potentially resulting in tooth loss. The good news is that periodontal disease can be managed, even for advanced cases.
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New Patients: (508) 850-0686 | Existing Patients: (508) 478-3800
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What are the treatment options for gum disease?
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for gum disease. Your treatment depends on the severity of the infection. Drs. Alan Ko, Brittany Bressler, and Saeed Kashefi can reverse gingivitis with standard cleanings and optimal oral hygiene. However, we’ll recommend the following treatment options when the infection goes beyond the gingivitis stage.
- Deep teeth cleaning: This non-surgical treatment involves scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling removes bacterial toxins and unwanted deposits from the teeth and root surfaces. Then, the dentist planes the roots to remove rough spots that attract harmful bacteria. Furthermore, root planing encourages gum tissues to reattach to your teeth, promoting optimal periodontal health.
- Antibiotic therapy: Topical and oral antibiotics halt bacterial colonies from forming in your gingival tissues.
- Gum flap surgery: Periodontal cleaning effectively treats many periodontal gum cases, preventing surgery. However, sometimes, the periodontal pockets are too deep to clean. In such cases, the doctor incises your gums to create a flap, providing direct access to the jawbone and other deeper structures.
- Gum grafting: Periodontal disease causes irreversible damage to the periodontal ligaments and underlying bone when left to thrive. Unfortunately, once your gums are damaged, they won’t grow back. Gum grafting involves transplanting healthy tissues to the receded area to replenish lost tissues.
Do you need periodontal treatment?
Periodontal disease not only causes oral issues but has been linked to systematic complications, such as diabetes, preterm births, heart disease, and so on. If you suspect gum disease, seek treatment promptly.
If you need periodontal treatment in Milford, MA, call (508) 850-0686 to schedule an appointment with David A. Goodman, DMD Alan C. Ko, DMD.