You've no doubt heard about gum disease before, but you may have major misconceptions about what it is and what causes it to occur. That's understandable, and it's why we want to help provide answers that set the fact straight. When you stop by our Manhattan cosmetic dentistry center we'll be able to discuss gum disease and other adverse gum conditions in greater detail. For now, let's look a the basics of gum disease and how it can be effectively treated.
Gum disease refers to the infection of the gums. This infection is caused by the bacteria that is naturally found in the mouth, the same bacteria that cause tooth decay to occur. During your visit with Dr. Veligdan, the condition of your gums will be taken very seriously.
There are different stages of gum disease with their own unique symptoms to take into account. These stages (in order of severity) are as follows:
In the earliest stage of gum disease (gingivitis), the condition can cause swelling of the gums, discoloration of the gums, bleeding gums, gum pain, and bad breath.
Periodontitis results in worsening of the previously mentioned systems as well as gum recession, tooth decay under the gumline, and tooth misalignment.
In advanced periodontitis, the symptoms of periodontitis worsen, and the teeth can fall out as well. Untreated, the infection of the gums can actually spread to other parts of the patient's mouth.
The first step of any restorative dentistry gum disease treatment is to get the bacterial infection under control. For minor gum disease, this usually means the use of special antiseptic rinses. For more advanced gum disease, antibiotics and additional therapies may be considered.
Once the infection is under control, the dentist can address the gum recession using different therapies. Generally, this is done through the use of soft tissue grafts to help rebuild a health gumline. This is especially important when it comes to treating very damaged or compromised soft tissues.
Since gum disease can cause tooth decay under the gumline and other serious health matters, it's also important to treat these problems in order to restore total dental health. For tooth decay, fillings, inlays, onlays, and dental browns may be used as needed. If a patient is missing teeth due to gum disease, a dental bridge or denture may be used. Dental implants are also a good option for replacing missing teeth.
Since every case of gum disease is different, our team will be sure to craft your treatment specifically to your needs. We will design treatment plan so that it is effective and emphasizes restoration as well as advanced dental aesthetics.
