
Many people are surprised to learn that they have signs of gum disease, but the reality is that it’s one of the most common oral health concerns in the world. Our team at Amaze Dental aims to spot and treat the early signs of the disease before it has a chance to cause permanent damage by providing personalized, effective solutions. Call our team today to schedule your next appointment for gum disease treatment in DeSoto!
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems in the nation. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of every two adults in the country faces this dental concern. As bacteria accumulate within the pockets of the gums and along the gumline, an infection will develop that can lead to gum recession and cause the erosion of the supportive bone that hold the teeth in place. While the earliest stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, can be reversed, the later stage of the disease, called periodontitis, can be managed to prevent tooth loss and oral decline.
The symptoms of gum disease that you may experience can vary based on the stage that the infection is in. For example, if you have gingivitis, you may notice the following signs:
If the infection has progressed to its later stage, periodontitis, you may notice the following symptoms:
Please discuss any of these symptoms with Dr. Najjar or Dr. Le at your routine checkups and cleanings. If you come in every six months for professional cleanings, our team should be able to stop the progression of the disease and help you maintain good oral health.
Depending on what we examine during your checkup and the symptoms you’re experiencing, our caring dentists in DeSoto may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Scaling and root planing, better known as a deep cleaning, is incredibly helpful at removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria accumulated along and below the gum line. The treatment itself takes place during two separate visits. First, one of our skilled dental hygienists will thoroughly clean the surface of the teeth, as far down as the pockets of the gums. Then, we will get rid of any hardened deposits of bacteria on the roots of the teeth. This will help the gums reattach to the teeth to prevent further erosion of the underlying supportive bone.
In combination with scaling and root planing, our experienced dentists in DeSoto may also opt to use our soft tissue laser. Emitting a concentrated beam of light, the laser can kill harmful oral bacteria and effortlessly remove severely damaged gum tissue, ensuring only healthy tissue is left behind. The laser also cauterizes the area, minimizing bleeding and the risk of post-operative infection.
Arestin antibiotic treatment may be recommended to help continuously fight the infection at its source. These small microspheres are designed to gradually release antibiotics over the course of two weeks. Our team will place them in the pockets of the gums to help kill bacteria and keep the pockets from deepening. After the two weeks are over, our team will have you come in for a follow-up visit to assess the effectiveness of the therapy and help decide next steps.