Gum Disease Treatment in Clearwater

Gum disease is also called periodontal disease, but in its earliest form, it is known as gingivitis. It results from inflammation and a bacterial infection of gum tissue. Individuals with the disease need gum disease treatment as gingivitis can progress and the bacteria in plaque and tartar can get under the gumline and damage the support structure of teeth. It is most common in adults; in fact, gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Gingivitis results from poor dental hygiene. Plaque builds up near the gums and irritates them. There are also risk factors for being more likely to develop gingivitis, such as smoking, diabetes and having crooked teeth that are hard to clean. Fortunately, there is a gingivitis cure. so call us and request an appointment if you notice any gingivitis symptoms.

Without addressing the gingivitis symptoms, you may experience worsening signs of gum disease, including:

1. Gums pulling away from teeth
2. Chronic bad breath
3. Visible pus between teeth
4. Gaps between teeth that didn't exist before
5. Loose teeth
6. Pain at the gumline

Your dentist will need to assess the stage to recommend appropriate treatments.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease. If you have any of the signs of gingivitis listed above, get treatment right away to prevent your gingivitis from turning into periodontitis. Periodontitis is more serious with more invasive treatments. About 75% of all the people in this country will develop gingivitis during their lifetime.

Periodontitis

Pockets form between the teeth and gums at this stage of gum disease. The teeth separating from the gums are one of the main gum disease symptoms you'll notice at this stage. If you have gum disease in Clearwater, please call us. We will do our best to stop the damage.

Severe Periodontitis

There is no gum disease cure at this point. Your dentist can help manage your gum disease symptoms that come with severe bone loss, like loose teeth or shifting teeth. You are also at a higher risk for general health problems as the bacteria can spread throughout the body.

If you have gingivitis, reversing gum disease and eliminating your gingivitis symptoms is easy, you'll have a professional teeth cleaning, which is the only way to remove tartar (hardened plaque). Next, you will learn how to prevent plaque buildup at home. Your dentist will also check for any restorations, like crowns and bridges, that may need fixing to prevent plaque buildup. This is usually enough for a gingivitis cure.

If your gum advanced to where gingivitis treatment isn't enough, your dentist will determine what stage your gum disease and recommend an appropriate treatment. First, you'll have a deep dental cleaning to remove plaque from under the gums. Next, you'll get either topical or oral antibiotics. If you need surgery to repair your gums or replace lost bone, your dentist will likely recommend a periodontist who can perform gum or bone grafts.

There is a gingivitis cure, but no cure for periodontitis. The disease is manageable and treatable, however. You'll need ongoing follow-up visits to make sure the disease does not get any worse. Smokers take a longer time to heal from treatments, so quitting is highly recommended for a successful outcome.

If you need treatment for gum disease in Clearwater, please contact us.