Millions of Americans suffer from periodontal disease. At Dennis Baik, DDS, we provide periodontal therapy in the San Jose area for patients who are struggling with this condition and provide a variety of treatment solutions to help combat the symptoms and heal the gums.
Treating Gum Disease at Its Source
Periodontal therapy is a general term for a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments you might need to have if you have gum disease. These procedures play a significant role in both reducing tooth loss and improving the health of your teeth and gums. Your specific gum condition will determine the best periodontal treatment for you.
Mild to moderate cases of gum disease may only require non-surgical treatments like scaling and root planing. It helps remove the plaque from the root’s surface, which is underneath the gums. On the other hand, you may need surgical treatments if you have a severe periodontal disease. These include gum graft, which adds healthy gum tissues to the affected area, and gum flap surgery, which cuts and folds the gums so the tooth surface underneath can be cleaned.
What are the Signs of Gum Disease?
You may have gum disease if your gums are red, swollen, or bleeding. It is natural for this to happen from time to time after eating something that irritates your gums or brushing too aggressively. However, if this happens regularly, then you may develop some type of gum disease. Other symptoms are bad breath, loose teeth, pain while chewing, sensitive teeth or teeth that appear longer. If you live in the San Jose area, we can examine your gums and let you know what the source of your problem is.
The Consequences of Periodontal Disease
In its early stages, gum disease can cause some irritation and bleeding. There may be some discomfort, but it will be minimal. This stage is called gingivitis.
If, however, it is left untreated, the disease will spread, and the gums will start to recede by pulling away from the tooth. This creates pockets in the gum tissue that can expose more of the tooth structure and the root system. Once exposed, the tooth and roots are more susceptible to becoming infected as bacteria can gather and start to irritate the area.
This can lead to cavities and infections along with bone loss. In severe cases, bone loss and receding gums can lead to tooth loss. In many cases, adult teeth fall out due to gum disease.
What Causes Gum Disease?
In short, bacteria. When bacteria remain on the teeth, they can form plaque and tartar. When this substance becomes stuck between the teeth and gums, it can lead to gum complications. The best way to prevent this is to brush and floss several times throughout the day and visit the dentist for regular teeth cleanings.
Are Certain People at Risk for the Condition?
There are things you can do to increase your risk of getting gum disease. This includes smoking, hormonal changes, pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications, and genetics. Any time that the blood flow is constricted or reduced, your risk for the disease increases. This is why diabetics and pregnant women are more susceptible to the condition.
At Dennis Baik, DDS, we recommend that our pregnant patients visit our office at least twice during pregnancy to decrease their risk and the pregnancy complications that come with it.
How is Periodontal Disease Treated?
At Dennis Baik, DDS, we treat gum disease in San Jose, California, in several ways. We will make a recommendation after examining your teeth and gums to determine the source of the problem and what should be done to address it. The severity of the periodontitis often dictates the treatment plan.
We recommend that patients look for the signs of gum disease and schedule an appointment immediately so that the least invasive procedure can be used to correct the problem. Once the disease has progressed too far, more significant procedures may be necessary to heal the gums, including surgery.
Non-surgical Procedure
The first step in addressing gum disease is to complete a deep cleaning. By removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums, we can help patients throughout the San Jose area start the healing process. Once the bacteria and plaque have been removed, the gums will start to heal naturally.
If the plaque is only around the edge of the gum line, a standard teeth cleaning will work. If it has become trapped between the gums and teeth, a scaling and root planing procedure will be required. In this case, we will need to scrape the plaque off from the teeth underneath the gums. Some dentists use a laser to do so to complete the procedure faster.
Surgical Periodontal Treatment
When surgery is required, it is typically because the gums have receded so significantly. When pockets form in the gum tissue, they need to be restored to protect the tooth again. In this case, a gum graft can be helpful.
This works by taking tissue from the roof of the mouth or another area and grafting it to the gums so that the gum tissue can start to regenerate. The gums then need to be secured back around the tooth to protect it and the roots. If bone loss has occurred as a result of gum disease, a bone graft may be necessary to restore and strengthen the tooth. In this procedure, natural or synthetic bone is compacted and sealed into the area so the bone can regenerate.
These procedures combined can help to both heal and restore your gums. To tell which procedures are necessary for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Baik. At Dennis Baik, DDS, we may start with a deep cleaning to see how well your gums react and start to heal. If they do not recover quickly, we may move to surgical procedures as necessary.
How to Keep Your Gums Healthy
You can prevent periodontitis by taking simple gum care steps that include brushing your teeth after meals, flossing daily, and rinsing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash once a day. This will help to remove bacteria and sugar from your teeth and gums before they can turn into plaque. Eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar can also help to keep your gums healthy.
We also recommend having your teeth cleaned professionally at least twice a year so that we can remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach places. This will ensure that your gums remain healthy.