Gum Disease Treatment London, Ontario
What Is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is very common. Fortunately, it’s usually preventable and treatable.
Gum Disease Can Be A Result of Poor Oral Hygiene & Have Serious Consequences
Gum disease is a common condition that involves inflammation and infection of the gums and the surrounding tissues that support the teeth. It is usually caused by poor oral hygiene that allows plaque to build up on the teeth and harden into tartar. This can lead to gums becoming swollen, red, and prone to bleeding. If left untreated, gum disease can progress to more severe conditions such as periodontitis, which can cause gum recession, tissue and bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. Symptoms of gum disease can include bad breath, receding gums, and loose teeth.
Treatment Options The Dentist May Recommend
Don’t just rely on home remedies to try and improve your oral health conditions, especially if you have teeth that become loose. To best treat gum disease, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. Our dental team can provide a diagnosis and treatment that best suits where you’re at in your stage of gum disease. This may include scaling and root planing, or you may require more extensive treatment such as gum graft surgery and even bone graft surgery.
Risk Factors For Gum Disease
Poor oral health, like not properly brushing and flossing properly, can lead to a buildup of plaque and tartar, which, in turn, can contribute to gum disease. But that’s not the only thing that causes gum disease.
Diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes can make a person more susceptible to infections, including gum disease.
Medications
Some medications can affect the health of the gums, such as anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, and immunosuppressants.
Age
The risk of gum disease increases with age, especially since you're more susceptible to bone and connective tissue loss.
Management & Treatment of Gum Disease
If your gum disease diagnosis has been caught early, management and treatment won’t be quite as drastic, whereas advanced gum disease may need surgery. Our dental team will determine the treatment for your specific case.
Scaling & Planing
Scaling involves removing plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth, along your gum line, and even below the gums in the periodontal pockets. Root planing is the process of smoothing out the roots of the teeth to prevent bacteria from collecting and causing further gum disease.
Good Oral Hygiene
The goal of treatment is to improve your at-home oral hygiene routine, especially those at risk of developing gum disease. The dentist will discuss with you the best ways to brush your teeth, floss, and how to rinse your mouth properly with mouthwash. These daily steps are crucial in preventing gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gum Grafts
Gum grafts are a dental procedure in which gum tissue is taken from elsewhere in the mouth, typically the roof of your mouth, to cover an area where the gum has receded. This is done to prevent further gum recession, protect the roots of teeth, cover any exposed bone or tissue, or improve the appearance of the gums.
Bone Grafts
Successful treatment may also require bone tissue to be transplanted into the oral cavity to help regenerate or strengthen the bone that supports your teeth or your jawbone. It can also be used to create a stable foundation for dental implants. The bone tissue for the graft can come from the patient's own body, a donor, or a synthetic material.
Tooth Replacement Options
As periodontal disease progresses, teeth may need to be removed. We can then discuss the best tooth replacement options for you. Dental implants are a great, permanent way to improve the strength and appearance of your smile, however, you may need to undergo gum or bone grafts first so the bone around your teeth is strong enough to support the implant. Just note that we do not perform dental implant surgery.
Common Signs of Gum Disease
The most common signs of gum disease include gums that are red, swollen, or tender, bleeding gums especially when brushing or flossing, a receding gum line, persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, loose or shifting teeth, pus around the teeth and gums, or sores in your mouth. If detected early enough, early signs of gum disease can be reversed. This is why it’s important to visit the dentist at least every six months for checkups and routine cleanings.
Contact Us Today To Discuss Treatment Options
If you’ve noticed signs of gum disease, call our dental office in London, Ontario today. The type of treatment will be determined by the severity of your diagnosis. Gum problems should always be dealt with promptly.