Periodontist in Grovetown, GA
A periodontist specializes in gum health in Grovetown, CA, and they can be the key to keeping your mouth healthy as the years roll by. Understanding what periodontics is and what periodontists do can give you a better idea of why you should schedule the extra time for yourself.
What Is Periodontics?
Periodontics refers to any treatments that are specifically designed for the gums, which could mean anything from prescribing antibiotics to treat an infection to performing a gum grafting surgery to reinforce the gums if you’ve lost essential tissue.
How Periodontics Differs from General Dentistry
Your general dentist does a great job at removing all exposed plaque from your teeth. A standard cleaning is a great way to treat your gums because it eliminates the possibility of bacteria migrating up and into the gumline.
However, even the best dentists with the more advanced tools can’t remove all damaging bacteria hiding under the gumline. Only a periodontist in Grovetown, CA has the equipment and expertise to provide a deeper cleaning.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease refers to any infection in the tissues that surround the teeth. This usually starts out as plaque, as referenced above, but that plaque can quickly harden into tartar, cementing food particles and bacteria and driving them further into the gum. Your gums will then begin to form pockets, essentially moving away from the teeth and leaving more space for further bacteria to burrow into.
Most people either have or have had some version of periodontal disease — potentially without even realizing it. At its earliest stages, gum disease is little more than plaque that inflames the tissues. Reached early enough, you can kill plaque with little more than a swig of mouthwash.
However, for many people, periodontal disease is far more pervasive, affecting the tooth root and the jawbone. This is unsettling for a number of reasons, but chiefly because it’s a preventable issue that millions of people all over the world suffer from.
What Treatments Are Available for Periodontal Disease?
The available treatments for periodontal disease depend on a number of factors, including the practice’s specialists and equipment. However, they generally include the following.
Scaling
Scaling is a type of deep cleaning, going just below the gumline to scrape out accumulated plaque. This procedure is typically considered preventive, removing the material that can lead to gum disease. However, it can be a great way to address inflammation of the gum tissues, restoring them to their original healthy state.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning will also reach under the gumline, but it goes deeper than a scaling procedure. Because a deep cleaning needs to reach deeper into the pockets, the periodontist will need to smooth the roots of the teeth so the gums can reattach and heal quickly.
This treatment is good for people with more advanced gum disease because it’s a relatively non-invasive (at least compared to surgery) and effective way to avoid more complex procedures in the future.
Antibiotics
Bacteria can either inflame or infect your gums. If your gums become infected, a periodontist might apply topical antibiotics after a deep cleaning. This ensures that any leftover bacteria is addressed and may speed up the healing process.
Maintenance
Once you’ve had a deep cleaning, your periodontist might recommend scaling treatments every trimester or so to help you keep up on your gum health, and avoid unnecessary deep cleanings.
Additional Treatments
Other periodontic procedures include surgical measures, like gum grafts or flap surgery. A surgeon can remove gum flaps to clean deeper into the pockets, cut out diseased tissue, reduce the size of pockets, or attach new soft tissue from a healthy source to reinforce weakened gums.
What Happens If Periodontal Disease Isn’t Addressed?
It ultimately depends on the rate of advancement. The most mild case, also known as gingivitis, typically doesn’t cause any type of pain or discomfort. At best, it might be slightly irritating when you brush or floss. Some cases do move extremely slowly, giving the person more time to take action.
Unfortunately, some cases advance faster, and if they’re allowed to keep going, it can result in the following:
- Bone loss: Your gum tissue, tooth root, and jawbone are all tied together. A serious infection will eventually extend into the bone and begin to chip away at its structural integrity.
- Tooth loss: You can’t have healthy teeth unless you have healthy gums. Your gums hold the tooth, keeping it in place. If your gum tissue starts to wear away, it will eventually make your teeth loose and potentially lead to tooth loss.
Are Some People More Susceptible to Gum Disease?
Yes. People’s oral health can react differently to the same stimuli, based on anything from genetics to general lifestyle. For example, some people may get a lot of cavities if they happen to have an unchecked sweet tooth, while others may experience gum inflammation instead of cavities. If you’re not visiting the right specialist, you can end up treating the wrong problem.
Will a Dentist Refer Me to a Periodontist?
Usually, a dentist will be able to catch the early stages of gum disease and either recommend an in-house specialist or refer you to a qualified periodontist. However, your mileage may vary depending on anything from the quality of the X-ray equipment to the stage of your gum disease. It’s important to work with people who invest in your long-term well-being, which means catching the issue long before it becomes a problem.
How to Avoid Gum Disease
The best way to avoid gum disease is to prioritize the standard dental advice, including brushing at least twice a day, scheduling bi-annual cleanings, and flossing every day (ideally at night). If you’re not one to floss regularly day after day, consider investing in a water flosser as a way to mitigate the accumulation of bacteria and plaque.
In addition, you might add more leafy greens to your diet while cutting down on cigarettes or smokeless tobacco. Foods like salmon, oranges, and broccoli are also known to help keep your gum tissue healthy. Making a few lifestyle changes can both strengthen your gums and alleviate some of the stress that can lead to inflammation.
If you’re looking to go the extra mile for the sake of your long-term oral health, the team at Patriots Park Dental offers both general dentistry and periodontic services. It’s our goal to coordinate care at every stage of the way, focusing on preventative treatments that can help you avoid more advanced services, like root canals, extraction, implants, and dentures,
