Gum Disease Treatment in Independence, KY
Treat Periodontal Disease Before It Destroys Your Oral Health!
Periodontal disease – more commonly known as gum disease – is the most common dental affliction today. It is a “silent” ailment, painless and invisible to the untrained eye in its early stages. Many people are walking around with it, unaware of the irreversible damage that is occurring in their mouths. A recent CDC study estimates that half of all people in the US over the age of 30 have periodontal disease. If left untreated, this issue can lead to loose teeth and complications with your overall health.
At Peter Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we understand that each person has a unique mouth with its own particular needs. We tailor our gum disease treatments and hygiene plans to each individual, as well as offer a variety of options to create a customized gum disease treatment plan WITH you. Start restoring your gums today by contacting us online or calling our Independence, KY office to schedule your periodontal care appointment!
What you need to know About gum disease?
- What Is Periodontal Disease?
- What Causes Periodontal Disease?
- Mouth-Body Connection
- What Can Periodontal Disease Lead To?
- Risk factors
- What Are the Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease?
What Is Gum Disease?
Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a serious infection or inflammation of your gums that damages the soft tissue around your teeth and destroys the bone that support your teeth. The early stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which causes the gums to be swollen and red, often leading to bleeding. Not only is gum disease a frequent cause of tooth loss in adults, but it can also prompt other health issues, such as heart disease, kidney disease and Alzheimer’s.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease or Periodontal Disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth that infects the tissue surrounding your tooth and causes inflammation. If this inflammation is left untreated, it can result in gum disease.
Gum disease is characterized by gums and bone receding from the area around your teeth, which forms pockets. Food and debris can collect in these pockets, developing more bacteria and causing an infection. Professional gum disease treatments then become the only way to repair this damage.
Mouth-Body Connection
An increasing amount of scientific evidence is available that connects poor oral health – including gum disease – to other diseases and ailments, like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and respiratory diseases. But where is the connection?
If you fail to clean your mouth regularly, oral bacteria can accumulate and incite infection in the form of gum disease. The mouth is a pathway to the rest of your body, so bacteria can migrate from there. If it leaks into your blood, the bacteria can kick off infections in the heart, brain or lungs. The could cause serious disease or even death.
Anyone, young or old, is susceptible to gum disease if they do not clean and care for their teeth on a regular basis. If your eyes are the window to the soul, then your smile is the door. It’s important to appreciate the connection between keeping your mouth, body and soul healthy. Dr. Peter can provide you with more in-depth information on how your mouth and body connect to impact overall health.
What Can Periodontal Disease Lead To?
Without a periodontal treatment plan, gum disease can lead to bone loss, gum recession and eventually tooth loss. Also, the bacteria can migrate to other parts of your body, introducing further infection and disease. Untreated periodontal disease also increases the risk of heart disease and makes controlling blood sugar more difficult for diabetic patients.
Risk Factors
Plague buildup is the main cause of periodontal disease. However, certain factors can increase the likelihood that you need gum disease treatment, such as:
- Poor Oral Hygiene
- Old Age
- Smoking and Tobacco Use
- Diabetes
- Crooked Teeth
- Genetics
- Defective Fillings
- Certain Medications
- Improperly Fitted Bridges
- Systemic Diseases
- Stress
- Hormonal Changes
- Substance Abuse
- Obesity and Poor Nutrition
What Are the Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease?
Here are some of the warning signs you need periodontal treatment:
- Swollen Gums
- Bright Red, Dusky Red, or Purplish Gums
- Tender or Bleeding Gums
- Receding Gum Lines
- Bad Breath
- Loose Teeth
- Painful Chewing
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Changes in Your Bite or Teeth Positioning
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, please contact our Dr. Peter to schedule an appointment to begin treatment
Periodontitis Treatment in Independence, KY
The First Step in Gum Disease Treatment: Diagnosis
Not every dentist regularly checks for early signs of periodontal disease, however our Independence, KY dentist, Dr. Peter, performs a thorough gum exam at least once a year and looks for other signs at every visit. Regular dental exams and cleanings with Dr. Peter and good oral hygiene practices at home will help reduce your risk for gum disease
Dr. Peter, will perform a visual assessment, looking for inflammation or bleeding. He will also evaluate the texture and color of your gums, along with tooth mobility. It’s imperative to diagnose gum disease early, before irreversible damage is done.
Gum disease is diagnosed through a periodontal exam. The dentist uses a small probe to measure the depth or pocket space between your gums and teeth. The deeper the pockets, the greater the chance for gum disease. Pockets deeper than three millimeters are usually cause for concern and more in-depth periodontal treatment will be required.
Because there are different severities of the disease, and dental benefit plans vary greatly, the only way to estimate the cost of your gum disease treatment is with a thorough exam. If you have a dental insurance plan, there may even be no out-of-pocket cost for your periodontal treatments.
Professional Periodontal Treatments
Periodontal treatments vary depending on the severity of the situation. If caught in the very early stages of inflammation (gingivitis), one or two dental cleanings by our periodontal dentist should resolve the problem and make your gums healthy again. Many patients can even receive their periodontal treatment during the time normally allotted for a healthy cleaning. Usually, two 1.5-2 hour appointments are necessary for patients who require more extensive gum disease treatments.
If the inflammation has slightly advanced to into gum disease, a deeper cleaning is necessary, called scaling and root planning. This periodontal dental service usually calls for our team to numb your gums to remove tartar and plaque from above and below the gum line. Dr. Peter may also advise you to use medicated mouth rinses and electric tooth brushes to promote healing and contain the infection following your in-office periodontal treatments.
After the scaling and root planning, if your pockets do not heal, periodontal surgery may be required as part of your periodontal treatment plan.
Periodontal Care and Maintenance
Regular twice-daily brushing and flossing is critical to impede gum disease. It only takes 24 hours for plaque to turn into tartar on your teeth and start doing damage.
Along with your home-care cleaning regiment, regular dental exams and cleanings with Dr. Peter are recommended four times a year. Prevention is the cheapest and most reliable way to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
After your periodontal treatment, you will receive customized recommendations on how to effectively keep the affected areas clean at home through by using picks, brushes, water flossers, etc. Patients will also receive advice on the best toothpastes and rinses. The most important thing is probably establishing an appropriate schedule to return for periodontal maintenance therapy. Periodontal disease is an incurable disease, but – if managed well – it does not have to result in continual loss of bone or teeth.
If you are still experiencing signs of active disease after your initial periodontal treatment, we offer Perio Protect Trays as a periodontal dental service. These trays are custom-fitted for you to use at home in order to deliver medication under the gums. Perio Protect Trays also have the added benefit of freshening your breath and whitening your teeth.
Ready to Repair Your Gums?
With years of experience in periodontal treatments, Peter Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is the best periodontal dentist in Independence, KY to repair your gums. Our periodontal services are customized to your unique needs and provide the best possible results. Call our office in Independence, KY (859 429-1327) or contact us online today to begin your periodontal treatments today!