Periodontal (gum) disease is a growing problem and one of the most common conditions we treat.
While good oral hygiene habits can help prevent periodontal disease, it can still happen. The earlier we catch it, the easier it will be to treat.
Dr. Chen is an American Board-Certified periodontist and implant surgeon dedicated to preserving natural dentition and providing long-lasting, evidence-based care. She earned her dental degree, completed a prosthodontic residency, and obtained a PhD from the ...
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is caused by plaque that builds up on the teeth and especially under the gumline. The sticky plaque attracts bacteria and eventually turns into hard tartar. The tartar and bacteria irritate the gums and cause infection.
Brushing twice daily and flossing every evening using proper technique will help remove a lot of plaque, but even the most diligent brusher and flosser may have a hard time cleaning off all the plaque, especially the plaque that hides under the gumline. You can improve your chances of staving off periodontal disease by getting twice-yearly professional dental cleanings from one of our excellent dental hygienists as recommended by the American Dental Association.
So what if you brush and floss and get your regular cleanings like you are supposed to and still get periodontal disease?
Other factors can contribute to and cause a predisposition to gum disease:
Traditional x-ray techniques only provide a two dimensional picture of a three dimensional object. What the CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) gives us, is a three-dimensional view of the bones, teeth, and other hard tissue, thereby allowing us to get a comprehensive view of areas that may have been hidden in traditional two dimensional imaging. There’s no longer a need to guess about the three-dimensional shape of tissues on the basis of a flat x-ray image. The CBCT allows a dentist to get more detailed information about structures within the tooth and jaw bone, making it essential for modern Endodontics (root canal therapy), dental implant planning and detection of root fractures.
What if you could see exactly what your dentist sees? You'd probably find it simpler to make informed decisions about your oral health!
Intraoral cameras allow you to do precisely that. Using a small digital camera embedded in a wand, the dentist can move it around your mouth and transmit the images instantly to a chairside monitor. This allows you to clearly see everything the dentist describes, including damage to the teeth and signs that might indicate periodontal disease.
How we address your gum disease depends a great deal on how advanced it is and how much damage it has caused. It’s important to treat gum disease, even in the early stages. Untreated gum disease will not only progress in your mouth but can also lead to health troubles throughout the rest of your body.
We can often treat mild gum disease with a renewed commitment to good oral hygiene habits and an antimicrobial mouthwash. Moderate-to-advanced gum disease may require a deep cleaning treatment known as scaling and root planing. During this treatment, we remove the tartar from below the gumline and get rid of the rough spots where bacteria tend to gather.
If you are concerned that you might have periodontal disease, don’t hesitate. Call our office today so that we can start your treatment.