Periodontal Care

Your teeth are not the sole focus of your dental care at our dental practice. We believe that protecting your gums is equally important for preventing oral diseases. Our practice offers comprehensive care for your gums, also known as periodontal tissue.

One primary oral health concern for patients and dentists alike is periodontal disease. The bacteria found in plaque cause inflammation that attacks the gums, leading to periodontal disease.

If left untreated, your periodontal disease can affect the underlying bone as well, putting you at risk for tooth and bone loss. Beyond its effects in the mouth, periodontal disease has also been linked with systemic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that occurs in stages. The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis, in which the gums may be red and swollen but no permanent damage is evident.

The next phase is periodontitis, when pockets develop in the gums and the connective tissue that holds the teeth in place is compromised. Patients who have advanced periodontitis may face bone and tooth loss, as those connective tissues are destroyed.

While examining your gums, your dentist will look for signs of periodontal problems, like redness, swelling, bleeding or pockets in the gums. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms at home, be sure to bring them to your dentist’s attention.

Your symptoms will help your dentist determine what treatment is appropriate. For gingivitis, a thorough professional cleaning that removes plaque and tartar and reduces the amount of oral bacteria will typically suffice.

As periodontal disease advances, however, the treatments become more invasive. Periodontitis may necessitate a root planing and scaling, in which the dentist cleans between the roots and the gums and smoothes the surface of the root to prevent the collection of plaque.

Gum flap surgery, when a dentist makes an incision in the gum for better access to the clean the root, may also be necessary if other treatments are ineffective.

Our practice is capable of treating all phases of periodontal disease and helping you to develop a plan for home care that can prevent a recurrence.

In addition to treating periodontal disease, our dentists can also make aesthetic improvements to your gums if they are needed.

Your teeth may get most of the attention, but your gums also have a significant influence on your smile’s appearance. If the gumline is asymmetrical, uneven, or the gums are too prominent, your smile may look strange.

Our dentists can perform cosmetic gum surgery to improve your appearance. Ask the dentist if such a procedure would be helpful for your case.