Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal infection, often referred to as gum disease, develops when plaque and tartar are not removed, allowing bacteria to build up between the teeth and the gum tissue. These bacteria can create a number of side effects such as bleeding gums, tenderness, inflammation, sensitivity, or tooth pain.
At Clark Dental Studio, we actively educate our patients about the importance of good oral hygiene and routine preventive services. However, gum disease does not always present any symptoms, which is why we encourage professional cleanings and exams to keep you a step ahead of the problem.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Teeth
Periodontal disease primarily affects the gums, so it may be difficult to see how your teeth are affected.
Gums play a crucial role in supporting your teeth. They hold your teeth in place and are designed to absorb the impact when you chew or bite down. If there’s a problem with your gums, problems with your teeth usually follow.
Since periodontal disease is progressive, its effects on your teeth will worsen without treatment. More subtle symptoms may begin to develop as the disease progresses. At this point, you may experience discomfort or notice that your teeth are more sensitive.
If left untreated, the disease progresses and small spaces called periodontal pockets open between your teeth and the gums holding them in place. This leaves the teeth unstable and, without treatment, will eventually lead to tooth loss.
Gum disease is not just an oral health problem, either. There is also evidence that bacteria present with gum disease can set off an inflammatory process that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Research has shown that chronic infections in your mouth may be linked to diabetes, pneumonia, and other health problems.
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
In many cases, if your gum disease has not progressed significantly, a thorough professional cleaning and frequent follow-up visits will usually do the trick. However, if the disease is more advanced, we will recommend a deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing.
This procedure is highly effective at treating mild to moderate gum disease, specifically when gum disease has led to pockets forming between the teeth and gums. We must perform scaling and root planing to remove debris below the gum line and close periodontal pockets.
Scaling and root planing is a relatively simple process. First, the hygienist numbs your gums for your complete comfort. Then we use specially designed tools to gently remove calcified tartar and other debris from the teeth, both at and below the gum line. Many of our patients also enjoy the benefits of nitrous oxide, a mild type of sedation we offer that will keep you nice and relaxed throughout the procedure.
If you suffer from gum disease, a deep cleaning offers many benefits to improve oral health. Root planing and scaling can prevent gum disease from leading to major dental problems and prevent the need for more costly dental work. It stops gum disease and prevents decay and possible tooth loss.
Please Call Our Office for an Appointment
If it’s time for your next professional cleaning or you’re showing any of the symptoms of gum disease like bleeding gums, please call our Chattanooga dental office to arrange an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bleeding gums are not normal. Gums that bleed and are tender or swollen are almost always a sign that gum disease is present.
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an infection of your gums. It is caused by bacteria that are allowed to sit on your teeth. If you do not have routine professional dental cleanings, this can quickly become a big oral health problem.
If we do not treat gum disease when it first appears, it will get worse. Advanced gum disease will cause the bone that holds your teeth to start to break down. You may notice this is happening if you feel that your teeth are becoming loose. Without treatment, you may eventually lose the tooth.
Treatment for gum disease usually includes a deep cleaning. During this procedure, one of our hygienists gently cleans the areas underneath the gums. If your case is more severe, we will refer you to a specialist who has the necessary skill and training to deal with gum problems.
If you do not have symptoms, it does not mean you don’t have gum disease. People often have gum disease without any symptoms at all. That’s why it’s important to stay up to date with your exams and cleanings. If our hygienist does find signs of gum disease, she will treat it with a special deep cleaning treatment. Then she will discuss ways that you can keep your teeth healthy and free of disease.
With regular dental treatments and proper brushing and flossing, you can avoid gum disease altogether. Please call Clark Dental Studio to schedule your next professional cleaning.
I’m going to put this into words most people can understand and not in dental insurance speak. There are basically two types of patients that come to the office for cleanings ( the dental term for that is prophylaxis appointments. We in the biz call those prophy’s) A prophy is for your standard patient that has some build up on his/her teeth, but is generally healthy. In this patient, no bone loss is present, meaning the bone around each tooth is where it should be and the patient doesn’t have much root exposed. On the flip side of the coin, there are those patients who do have bone loss, creating a much deeper place to clean (Again, we in the biz call this a ‘pocket’) People with deep pockets in the presence of bone loss require scaling and root planning, insurance talk for ‘deep cleaning.’
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Matt Clark
Originally from Union City, Dr. Clark grew up wanting to be a dentist. He entered college close to home at the University of Tennessee-Martin, never changed his course of study, and stayed true to his plan, graduating with high honors and a degree in cell and molecular biology. He then went on to Memphis to attend and graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.
Upon graduation, he moved to his wife’s hometown of Dyersburg to work in a pediatric dental office, which is the probable cause of his residual ...