Periodontal Care
Preventive Dentistry Tulsa, OK
 Periodontal care is crucial for oral health. It focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. These diseases include gingivitis, and periodontal gum disease. Effective periodontal care includes regular dental check ups, professional cleanings, and a diligent at home oral hygiene practice, brushing and flossing. Advanced periodontal treatments include scaling and root planing, surgical interventions, and the use of antimicrobial therapies to manage and reverse gum disease.
Maintaining healthy gums is essential to preserve our patient's natural teeth, preventing tooth loss, and for overall health. Periodontal disease negatively affects oral health, but it has also been linked to systemic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Gum disease negatively affects our overall health, as well. When we help our patients prioritize periodontal care, we help them ensure long term oral health, and well being overall.
Understanding Periodontal Disease: Causes and Symptoms
Understanding periodontal disease comes by recognizing the causes and symptoms of this common, but serious condition.
Causes
Periodontal gum disease affects the gums and the supporting structures of the teeth. This disease is primarily caused by the accumulation of plaque on the teeth, around the gums. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene, smoking, and genetics. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes may increase the risk of developing periodontal disease.
Symptoms
Early symptoms include red, swollen, inflamed, bleeding gums, especially during brushing or flossing. As the disease progresses, it leads to receding gums, persistent bad breath, and the formation of deep pockets between the teeth and gums. The advanced stages of periodontal disease result in tooth mobility that ends with tooth loss. Early detection and treatment are vital to prevent the severe consequences of periodontal disease, and to maintain oral health.
Comprehensive Guide to Periodontal Disease Prevention
The first proactive step that patients can take is a diligent oral hygiene practice. Brushing teeth at least twice daily, and flossing each night before bed. This prevents plaque between the teeth and along the gumline.
The second step is regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings. These are essential to detect early signs of periodontal disease, and remove plaque and tartar that cannot be taken care of by brushing and flossing alone.
Third, a balanced diet rich in vitamin C and calcium supports gum health, and enhances the body's ability to fight infections. We also advise our patients to avoid tobacco use, manage systemic conditions such as diabetes, and to reduce stress whenever possible. These outside factors significantly affect gum health. When our patients use these preventative strategies in their daily routines, they significantly lower their risk of developing periodontal gum disease, and ensure long term overall health.
The Importance of Early Detection in Periodontal Care
Early detection is everything in periodontal care. It is crucial to prevent the progression of gum disease, and preserve oral health. The early stage of periodontal disease, gingivitis, comes with mild symptoms such as redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums that is most apparent during brushing and flossing. However, these symptoms can be overlooked. When patients come in for check ups and professional teeth cleaning, gingivitis is detected and treated quickly. Gingivitis can be reversed with professional care, and improved oral hygiene practices.
Delaying treatment can allow gingivitis to progress into periodontitis. This is a much more severe gum disease that causes irreversible damage to the gums, and the bone structure that supports the teeth. Delayed treatment may result in tooth loss. Regular dental check ups are essential for early detection. They allow us to treat and manage gum disease efficiently. When our patients prioritize early detection, they avoid the extensive and costly treatments required for advanced periodontal disease, and ensure better long term health.
Professional Periodontal Treatments: What to Expect
Professional periodontal treatments consist of several different procedures designed to manage and treat gum disease. Each one is tailored to the severity of the condition. At first, patients can expect a thorough evaluation, including periodontal probing to measure pocket depths around teeth, and diagnostic imaging to assess bone loss. Scaling and root planing are non surgical treatments performed to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooth the tooth roots. This promotes gum reattachment and healing.
Surgical interventions such as flap surgery, bone grafts, and tissue grafts may be necessary in advanced cases of periodontal gum disease. These procedures restore supportive structures and enhance gum health. Antimicrobial treatments and laser therapy are used to reduce bacterial infection and inflammation. Throughout the treatment process, our team provides guidance on maintaining optimal oral hygiene and we schedule regular follow up visits to monitor progress. Understanding what to expect from professional periodontal treatments helps our patients approach their dental care with confidence and commitment, which leads to better outcomes for their oral health.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy Options
Non surgical periodontal therapy options are essential to manage the early to moderate stages of gum disease. These treatments often halt progression of the disease without the need for invasive surgical procedures. The most common non surgical treatment is scaling and root planing. This is a deep cleaning method that removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline, and smooths the tooth roots to encourage gum reattachment.
Other non surgical therapies include the application of antimicrobial agents or localized antibiotics that target specific bacterial infections within periodontal pockets. Laser therapy is an innovative treatment option that reduces bacteria and promotes the healing of inflamed gums. But most importantly, improving at home oral hygiene practices, regular brushing and flossing, is critical to manage gum health. These non surgical approaches, combined with regular dental check ups, provide an effective strategy to control periodontal disease, improve oral health, and prevent the need for more extensive treatments.
If you have symptoms such as swollen, bleeding gums, or questions regarding gingivitis and periodontal gum disease, please call the Smiles of Tulsa team at (918) 891-3059 to schedule an evaluation today. |
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