Dental Practice FAQs: How Gum Disease Is Treated

If a patient has gum disease, it might be time for a visit to the dental practice. Knowing more about what to expect allows the patient to make the right decision. That way, the gum disease will not advance into worse concerns, such as an infection. Keep reading to learn more.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease has several symptoms. These might include bleeding, swollen, or red gums. In severe cases, the gums might start receding, and chewing can be painful. The teeth might begin to loosen as the support structures begin to weaken. Bad breath might result from the bacteria in the mouth.

The process starts when the plaque in the patient’s mouth hardens to tartar. When that happens, only a dental practice can remove that. But if the patient does not have that removed, the bacteria might result in gingivitis. That is the first stage of periodontal disease. The gums might be swollen and bleed when flossing or brushing.

At that stage, the disease is still reversible. The dental practice can treat it using cleaning and having the patient floss and brush. But if that does not get treated, the condition might begin to worsen. That can lead to periodontitis, causing damage to the mouth’s soft tissues. An infection results and the teeth might eventually be lost.

What are the typical treatments?

The good news is that the dentist can treat many gum disease types, even if it is advanced. The treatment starts with an exam and a consultation appointment. That way, the dentist can look at the disease’s stage and find the right treatment plan. The patient might have a professional dental cleaning at that point. The dentist will remove the tartar and plaque from the gumline.

If there are signs of more advanced gum disease, the patient might need to have that done at least twice a year. For more advanced disease, the patient might need scaling and root planing. The dentist will remove the tartar and plaque from the gumline and tooth roots. There will be a local anesthetic to reduce the amount of discomfort. The dentist can then smooth the rough areas to prevent more bacteria from clinging to the site. Then the patient might have local medications to kill more bacteria.

Once the patient has gotten these treatments, oral hygiene at home is necessary. That might include flossing and brushing more often. The patient may also need to have a specific type of mouthwash. For the most severe forms, the patient may need to have surgery.

Is gum disease preventable?

Having regular cleanings is critical. That way, the dentist can find issues early on. Plus, rinsing and brushing can remove food particles from the mouth. Regular flossing can remove the plaque from between the teeth.

Visit a dental practice today for gum disease treatment

Patients who believe they have gum disease should visit the right dental practice as soon as possible. That way, the dentist can address the relevant issues. Understanding more about the treatment can help a patient make a more informed decision. Making an appointment today is the first step.

Request an appointment here: https://beniciadentist.com or call Southampton Dental Care at (707) 887-5075 for an appointment in our Benicia office.

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