Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding your teeth. During your regular dental exams, Dr. Quang Luong checks for signs of this condition in order to diagnose it as early as possible, before it can cause any significant damage to your oral health.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth. This plaque contains disease-causing bacteria, which infect and inflame your gum tissues. Common signs of gum disease include:
- Easy bleeding of the gums
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gum recession
- Gums pulling away from your teeth
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Teeth that are loose
- Changes in your bite or in the fit of oral appliances
If left untreated, gum disease will eventually result in gum recession, bone loss and tooth loss. Fortunately, there are several treatments available to fight gum disease and improve your oral health.
Our dentist and team offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatments, and will work one-on-one with you to evaluate the severity of your disease and create a treatment plan that meets your needs. Some of the options our dentist may recommend include:
Nonsurgical Gum Treatment (Scaling & Root Planing)
Nonsurgical gum treatment usually involves scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling and root planing works to thoroughly clean your teeth, removing disease-causing bacteria and plaque to halt the progression of the disease and help you begin to recover. This type of treatment is highly effective in the early stages of gum disease, and is often combined with other types of care, such as antibiotic therapy or additional professional cleanings. Scaling and root planing has two main steps:
- Scaling, in which plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth surface.
- Root Planing, in which the roots of the teeth are cleaned and smoothed to remove bacterial toxins.
Your SRP treatment may be split into several appointments, with each treatment session focusing on a specific area of your mouth.
LANAP® Therapy
LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) therapy is a patented laser gum treatment. It involves the use of a soft tissue laser to eliminate the diseased tissue and bacteria in your mouth, after which calculus and plaque are removed from your tooth roots to eliminate the source of the disease-causing bacteria. Finally, the laser is used to sterilize and clean periodontal pockets. LANAP treatment offers many benefits, including:
- Easy to perform
- A more comfortable procedure
- Faster treatment time
- Quicker recovery after your treatment
- Better long-term results
- Minimally invasive
- Safe and hygienic
Guided Tissue Regeneration
Guided tissue regeneration is typically recommended if your gums have receded. Gum recession may occur as a result of periodontal disease, overaggressive brushing, genetic factors, use of tobacco products, insufficient dental care, bruxism (grinding and clenching of the teeth), hormonal changes or crooked teeth.
Guided tissue regeneration involves folding back the gum tissues and removing bacteria. Our dentist will place a regenerative material under the gums to encourage your body’s natural healing factors. After this material is in place, your gums will be secured over the tooth root. Over time, your tissues will regenerate to correct gingival recession.
Pocket Reduction Treatment
When you develop gum disease, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, leading to small “pockets” between the gums, teeth and supporting bone. These pockets often host disease-causing bacteria, which in turn contributes to the continued advance of gum disease. Pocket reduction treatment, also known as gingivectomy or flap surgery, works to minimize these pockets and improve your oral health.
During this procedure, your gums are gently pulled back and bacteria and calculus are removed. Our dentist may perform this procedure with a laser to ensure the most effective treatment possible. Antibiotics will be provided, and your gums will be placed back into their proper positions. Pocket reduction helps to:
- Reduce bacterial spread and slow the advance of the disease
- Halt bone loss
- Facilitate more effective home care
You should see an improvement in the health of your gums over the next week or so while you recover from your procedure.
Soft Tissue Grafting (Gum Grafting)
One of the options Dr. Luong may recommend to correct gum grafting or improve an uneven gumline is soft tissue grafting. During this procedure, our skilled dentist will stitch grafted gum tissue onto areas of the gums that are lacking tissue. This graft material may be taken from the root of the mouth or the surrounding gums, depending on your individual needs. We may also use tissue-stimulating proteins to encourage your body’s natural growth and healing abilities.
We invite you to call Care Dental Spa at 254-773-0055 today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Luong and learn more about gum disease treatment in Temple, Texas!