Do you have bleeding or swollen gums? If so, then there is a high probability that you have periodontitis or gum disease. Gum disease is a prevalent condition and is among the leading causes of tooth loss. Close to half of the people above 30 years old in America struggle with gum disease.
When gum disease is in its infancy, the effects can be reversed if you seek periodontal treatment in Westwood, MA, from a board-certified periodontist. But if you choose to be cavalier about it, you run the risk of developing more severe health conditions.
However, we have made major leaps and bounds in dentistry and can now solve these problems easily. You no longer have to lose your teeth. But before we see what treatment options are available, let’s first understand who a periodontist is and what they do.
Gums and tooth-supporting tissue are known in dental terminology as the periodontium. The branch of dentistry that deals with the periodontium is known as periodontics, and the professional who deals with the gums and tooth-supporting tissue is known as a periodontist.
Therefore, when you visit our board-certified periodontist, expect our specialist to deal with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the periodontium. Additionally, our Board-Certified Periodontist can also treat oral inflammations and place dental implants when the need arises.
One of the glaring signs that people tend to overlook is bleeding gums. This represents the early stages of the disease, characterized by inflammation of the gums. The initial stage of periodontitis is known as gingivitis. Most of the time, gingivitis is brought about by poor oral hygiene.
Typically, when you eat food, the harmful bacteria present in the mouth will start digesting the food particles. Then, a clear sticky substance called plaque is formed on your teeth’s surface. If you do not remove the plaque by brushing your teeth using fluoridated toothpaste, plaque mineralizes, forming a hard brown substance known as tartar.
If this stage progresses, then it develops into periodontitis. This is where plaque starts to form under the gums, and the underlying bone starts losing its integrity, eventually causing tooth loss.
The symptoms of gingivitis are:
Here are some of the risk factors associated with gum disease:
When you visit Board Certified Periodontist near you, expect our specialist to:
At the end of the examination, our dentist near you will tell you the disease’s stage and grade.
The goal of periodontal treatment is to remove the tartar through scaling and root planing to prevent bone and tooth loss. If you adopt proper oral habits, you stand a better chance of keeping the disease at bay.
Our Westwood dentist may recommend two types of treatments:
If gum disease is still in the initial stages, then our Board-Certified Periodontist may perform any of the following procedures:
If you have advanced periodontitis, then you have to undergo surgery. Some of the procedures that you can expect are:
Gum disease is a subtle disease, and if you are not aware of the early signs, you might end up losing your teeth. Schedule an appointment with our Board-Certified Periodontist near you at Westwood Dental Group if you need gum disease treatment.
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