Periodontal Care

Finding Treatment for Your Gums Periodontal disease is a common oral health issue that, if untreated, can result in serious consequences, including tooth loss. During the disease’s first stage, you might never even know that anything is wrong. As it progresses, however, it becomes more and more noticeable, and the effects worsen. At Summit Dental Care, we can provide you with the care you need to prevent and treat gum disease so that you can maintain a healthy mouth. The Stages Of Gum Disease The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. At this stage, only the gums are affected as they become red, swollen, and bleed when you brush and floss. If gingivitis isn’t addressed right away, periodontitis can develop. At this stage, the bacteria has gone below the gum line and begin attacking your jawbone. The longer it goes untreated, the worse it becomes, and can eventually develop into advanced periodontitis. Your gums will recede, you’ll lose bone mass in your jaw, and your teeth will loosen. Treatment at Summit Dental Care Despite what many people think, gum disease is fairly common. While the earliest stage is reversible, later stages are not. Getting treatment right away can help to put a stop to the progression of gum disease. Summit Dental Care can help to protect your oral health with periodontal maintenance. Periodontal maintenance is a type of dental cleaning meant for patients who have been diagnosed with gum disease. We can effectively remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria buildup when you come in for periodontal maintenance after your regular exams. This helps alleviate the irritation experienced by your gums and allows the tissue to reattach to your teeth. For those with more advanced gum disease, more frequent visits are essential for ensuring that all surfaces of your teeth stay clean so that your gums can begin to heal and reattach. For those with less severe gum disease, you may not need as many visits. Periodontal Disease Prevention One of the best ways to prevent gum disease is to take good care of your mouth. It is recommended that you brush twice a day as well as floss once a day. These habits help to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth, keeping these substances from irritating your gums. You should also schedule regular dental cleanings and exams every six months. Other ways to help prevent gum disease include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, keeping diabetes under control, and having crooked teeth corrected. Frequently Asked Questions What causes gum disease? One of the main causes of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. Neglecting your oral care routine can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria.  Other factors that can contribute to gum disease include smoking, significant alcohol consumption, dry mouth, medical conditions such as diabetes, and even crooked teeth.  When plaque and bacteria accumulate along your gum line, they begin to irritate the tissue, leading to gum disease. What do I do if I get gum disease? If you can get gum disease but visit the dentist when it’s still gingivitis, we can help you to reverse it. This is done with a thorough professional cleaning and making sure that you take good care of your mouth.  Once gum disease turns into periodontitis, the issue can only be managed. It cannot be reversed. We can help you to stop the progression of gum disease, though, and maintain a healthy mouth. Depending upon the severity of your periodontitis, we may recommend scaling and root planing, pocket reduction surgery, osseous surgery, or another treatment. Periodontal maintenance may also be recommended to help ensure that your mouth stays healthy and that gum disease does not worsen. Taking good care of your mouth is important not just for preventing cavities, but for preventing gum disease as well. Is periodontal maintenance different than routine cleanings? The biggest difference between the two is how thorough the cleanings are. With routine dental cleanings, we focus on the crowns of your teeth and the areas along the gumline. With periodontal maintenance, we focus on cleaning not just the crowns of your teeth, but the surfaces below the gumline as well. When you have periodontal pockets, bacteria and plaque can accumulate under the gumline. No matter how well the crowns are cleaned, if the areas under the gums are not cleaned, your mouth will never be able to heal properly. Periodontal maintenance allows for a deeper clean so that you can achieve and maintain a healthier mouth. In addition to being more thorough, periodontal maintenance visits are generally more frequent. On average, these cleanings are done every 3 months. Is gum disease treatment covered by insurance? The majority of dental insurance plans cover the cost of preventive care, which is essential to help prevent periodontal disease. Advanced gum care may not be covered by your insurance, which is why it’s so important to have regular dental checkups with our team so we can identify potential concerns before they become serious problems. It’s best to speak with your insurance provider if you end up needing advanced periodontal treatment before moving forward with care.