.png)
Get The Treatment You Need
Halt Or Reverse Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of premature tooth loss in America, and many people are not aware that they even suffer from this serious oral health condition. At NexGen Dentistry, Dr. Mansoureh Yavari is here to help you get the periodontal care you need to save your teeth and preserve your gums in National City. Contact us now for an appointment or learn more below.
The Basics, Signs & Symptoms
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, also called “gum disease,” is a chronic infection of the gum tissue in your mouth. It’s primarily caused by inadequate brushing and flossing, which leads to the buildup of bacteria-filled plaque and tartar between the teeth and the gums.
There are other contributing factors that can raise your risk of developing gum disease, such as diabetes, dry mouth (xerostomia), heavy alcohol use, and smoking or oral tobacco use.
Initially, the symptoms and signs of periodontal disease are relatively minor, and are limited to gum swelling and inflammation, gum tenderness, discoloration of the gums, and bad breath (halitosis).
However, as the disease gets worse, it may cause further symptoms like gum recession which makes your teeth look longer, loosening of the teeth, pain and tenderness when chewing, a foul taste in the mouth, or the formation of pockets of pus between the gums and teeth.
It’s very important to see a dentist like Dr. Yavari as soon as you can if you think you have gum disease. Unless you get proper care from an experienced dentist, your condition will only get worse.
What You Need To Know
The Stages Of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is usually broken up into three stages, which are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. Gingivitis is the least severe and most common form of gum disease. It is reversible, and does not cause any permanent damage to the teeth and gums.
However, if left untreated, gingivitis will progress into irreversible periodontitis, which will damage the gums and support structures of the teeth. While periodontitis can be controlled with regular dental visits and its progress can be halted, this damage is irreversible.
The final stage, advanced periodontitis, results in severe damage to the gums and teeth, and usually causes the loss of most or all of the teeth. Oral surgery is usually required to either restore and repair the teeth and gums, or to extract the remaining teeth and replace them with a denture or dental implants.
Treating Gum Disease
Periodontal Treatment Options
If you have mild to moderate periodontal disease, you will usually get treatment with a deep cleaning (scaling & root planing) at NexGen Dentistry. This treatment involves cleaning between your teeth and gums to remove “pockets” of bacteria, and smoothing the roots of the teeth to help prevent the formation of further bacterial pockets.
In addition to this, surgical treatments like gum grafting to repair the gums or gum flap surgery to clean the gums and the roots of the teeth may be recommended depending on the extent of your periodontal disease. To learn more and get a customized treatment plan from Dr. Yavari, contact NexGen Dentistry today.
.png)
