Healthy gums help you keep your teeth for a lifetime and avoid tooth decay, bad breath, and extensive dental treatments such as periodontal surgery. Since periodontal disease is also a leading cause of tooth extractions, you can minimize your chances of needing a dental bridge, implant, or denture. The beginning stages of periodontal disease can be effectively treated to restore your gums to health with a procedure known as periodontal scaling and root planing. Early detection and treatment can help you keep your teeth for lifetime.
To find out what we can do to keep your gums healthy schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
When the early stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, is not treated promptly it advances into a more severe inflammation and infection of the gums. In this more advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis, the gum tissue detaches from the tooth and jawbone. This pulling away of the gum leaves a pocket or space alongside the tooth where dental plaque and tartar can easily collect and cause infection and bone loss. Once you lose the bone supporting a tooth it can loosen and may eventually need extraction.
What Are The Risk Factors For Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease is preventable with proper oral hygiene, regular dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings. However, several risk factors can increase the risk for periodontitis, such as:
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Smoking or using other tobacco products
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Misaligned teeth
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Chronic stress
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Compromised immune system
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Diabetes
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Dry mouth
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Hormonal changes such as seen with pregnancy and menopause
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Defective dental restorations
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Poor diet
What Are The Symptoms Of Periodontal Disease?
If you have healthy gums, you won’t notice bleeding when brushing or flossing, which is an early sign of gingivitis. Once gum disease progresses, you may notice one or more of these symptoms:
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Red and swollen gums that bleed easily.
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Gums that are tender to touching, brushing, or flossing.
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Persistent bad breath.
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Pus draining from around teeth.
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Loose teeth.
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Pain when chewing.
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Receding gums.
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Change in how your teeth come together when you bite.
What Is Scaling And Root Planing?
A regular dental cleaning cannot clean the pockets that form with periodontitis. This requires a deep cleaning below your gumline known as periodontal scaling and root planing. The goal of scaling and root planing is to help eliminate the cause and repair the damage caused by inflamed and infected gums.
Periodontal scaling involves the use of manual hand and ultrasonic instruments to remove all the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. An effective cleaning removes all the irritants causing inflammation contained in the pocket alongside each tooth.
Root planing removes the damaged cementum that covers the root surface found in the pockets. The goal of this procedure is to leave your roots smooth to promote healing and more resistance to future infection.
Is Scaling And Root Planing Painful?
Scaling and root planing differs from a routine dental cleaning that takes place in one relatively short appointment. Scaling and root planing is typically divided into two or more appointments that may require local anesthetic if you feel any discomfort.
What Can I Expect After The Procedure?
You will receive specific instructions regarding aftercare. In general, you should expect:
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Sore gums
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A small amount of bleeding
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Increased sensitivity to hot and cold
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Slight tenderness when chewing
All of these postoperative symptoms gradually improve while healing takes place.
How Can I Prevent Periodontal Disease?
You can take the following steps to prevent periodontal disease and the need for scaling and root planing.
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Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush for two minutes.
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Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when you notice worn or damaged bristles.
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Floss daily using the proper technique.
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Discuss with us whether you should use an antimicrobial mouthwash.
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Eat a healthy diet.
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Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
Schedule An Appointment
Call and schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry to discuss how we can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums for a bright smile.