Gum Disease in Greenfield, IN
Gum disease is a common but serious infection that begins with the tissue of your gums. When untreated, gum disease can spread to the jawbone and cause tooth loss.
Regular dental check-ups and teeth cleanings are essential to help prevent gum disease from developing and watch for any early symptoms that may occur.
Gum disease begins with a build-up of bacteria that can irritate your gums, making them more sensitive. You may notice this sensitivity when brushing your teeth, and you may also see some blood when you brush and floss.
If gum disease progresses, the infection can grow and spread, causing loss of gum tissue and bone. This gum and bone loss eventually destabilizes the teeth, causing loose teeth and even tooth loss.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults, and according to the CDC, 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease.
Gum disease isn’t always about bad oral hygiene
Gum disease can have an unnecessary stigma, which leads people to avoid treatment — but hygiene practices aren’t the only factor.
Yes, it’s essential to brush and floss and take good care of your teeth, but gum disease may still happen even when you do that. Certain illnesses, hormonal changes, and even medications can put you at higher risk of infection or disease.
This is why it’s so important to have an ongoing relationship with a dentist you trust, who has a clear picture of your overall health.
At Cornerstone Dental Arts, we’re invested in your overall health and wellbeing. Regular dentist check-ups include questions about any medical issues you’ve been having or any medications you’re taking.
What does gum disease treatment in Greenfield, IN involve?
Each patient’s gum disease treatment is customized for their situation, and on the severity of the disease or infection. We’ll evaluate the state of your gums and determine whether bone loss has already occurred.
When identified early, the disease may be halted or even reversed through regular dental cleanings at our office combined with a rigorous home care routine. For more advanced cases, additional periodontal disease treatment is necessary.
Scaling and root planing
If a deeper cleaning is necessary, we can perform a scaling and root planing.
This dental treatment is performed under local anesthetic, like when you get a tooth filling, to prevent discomfort. The procedure involves removing any plaque or tartar beneath the gum line and smoothing out the root of the tooth.
The goal of this procedure is twofold, it provides a deep clean to the entire surface of the tooth and tooth root, removing bacteria, and it provides a clean, smooth surface to encourage the gum tissue to reattach.
Antibiotics
To treat infection, we may prescribe oral antibiotics or a topical antibiotic in a mouth rinse or gel.
Surgical treatments
In some cases, surgical treatments may be necessary. These can include soft tissue grafts if there has been a significant recession of the gum line and bone grafts to repair or replace bone loss.
Why is treating gum disease important?
In healthy adults, bacteria in the mouth should be harmless, but several complicating factors exist. Any infection, including gum disease, can be more serious for someone with a compromised immune system.
Gum disease can negatively interact with other illnesses, such as diabetes. The CDC is also actively studying the link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease.
You work hard to take care of yourself. Don’t let your dental health become a blind spot.
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