(559) 875-7980Periodontal disease (gum disease) involves inflammation and infection of the gums and sometimes the bone that supports teeth. It is most often the result of poor oral hygiene, but some people are genetically predisposed to developing gum disease even though they practice good oral hygiene. Hormonal changes (like pregnancy), smoking, and autoimmune diseases are risk factors for developing periodontal disease.
At Mann Family Dentistry, we want you to have the healthiest mouth possible. It is never too late to improve your care of your teeth and gums. We will repair problems and help you keep your new and improved mouth in great shape. If you need gum disease treatment in Sanger, we are here to help.
What Causes Gum Disease
Periodontal disease starts in the pocket (space) between the tooth and gum. This area can become filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, leading to gingivitis and inflamed gums around your teeth. You may notice a bright red color to your gums, and those areas could look puffy. You may notice bleeding from your gums, especially when brushing. Your gums may be tender.
If gingivitis goes unchecked, bacteria can seep beneath your gum line to cause more inflammation and damage. Inflamed gums will slowly pull away from your teeth, creating an even better hiding place for the bacteria. Brushing and flossing often cannot reach into these pockets to clean them out.
When periodontitis worsens, the supporting bone for your teeth, ligaments, and soft tissues can become damaged and infected. You could start to notice bad breath, a bad taste in your mouth, and pain with chewing. Your gums will start to shrink away from your teeth. Even if you cannot see this, your dentist will. You may start to notice loose teeth, depending on how badly the tooth-supporting bone is affected.
Treating Periodontal Disease
When caught early enough, gum disease treatment in Sanger can reverse the damage. If you have already lost bone around your teeth, the disease is too advanced to reverse but can be managed with proper treatment and diligent oral hygiene. Exactly what type of treatment you will need is determined by how advanced your periodontal disease is.
Better oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth two to three times a day, flossing daily, and more frequent dental cleanings by a dental hygienist, can manage early periodontal disease.
Scaling and root planing involve cleaning deeper beneath your gums to remove plaque and bacteria your toothbrush cannot reach. Your dental hygienist will remove plaque from your teeth and smooth tooth root surfaces to stop bacteria from reattaching. This procedure is usually done under local anesthesia.
If your gum disease has progressed far enough, you may need pocket reduction surgery (osseous surgery) to remove plaque and bacteria too deep for your dental hygienist to reach. During this surgery, your periodontist will make an incision into your gums that creates a flap of gum tissue that can be moved away from the roots of your teeth. This makes it possible to clean plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the deepest areas of your teeth. Once the cleaning is complete, the flap of gum tissue is repositioned and stitched back into place.
Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) is a new, less invasive way of treating advanced gum disease in Sanger using a handheld laser. The laser can target diseased gum tissue while not damaging the healthy tissue.
It is possible to replace lost bone through bone grafting. A special material can be placed into areas with significant bone loss, providing a scaffold to help your body regenerate bone. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is often added to a bone graft procedure. An artificial membrane is placed between your gums and the bone grafting material. This membrane will help keep space open and available for bone regeneration because gum tissue will regenerate faster than bone and could overtake space that is needed for the new bone.
You may need a gum grafting procedure when you have significant gum loss. The periodontist will add tissue to areas to help cover exposed tooth roots. Tissue can be taken from the roof of your mouth or from a bone and tissue bank.
Save Your Gums and Teeth With Gum Disease Treatment in Sanger
Most of the time, gum disease is mild, but periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, even if they are mild, make an appointment for teeth cleaning and an assessment by Dr. Mann for gum disease treatment in Sanger. We will evaluate your situation and help you regain a healthy mouth.