Gum Disease Treatment – Marion, OH
Treat Gum Disease and Enhance Your Oral Health
Have you developed sensitive, swollen, or bleeding gums when you brush or floss? These are all potential indicators of periodontal problems, which often start out small and don’t exhibit noticeable symptoms. However, the longer these concerns remain unaddressed, the more likely they are to progress to more advanced stages of gum disease, which can significantly affect your dental well-being.
Fortunately, Dr. Whittaker offers several options to treat gum disease and enhance your oral health. Continue reading to learn more about these services, and feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Green Valley Dental for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Member of the American Dental Association
- Multiple Treatment Options Offered
- Flexible Financing Available
What is Gum Disease?
Would you be surprised to learn that CDC-supported data estimates that approximately 47.2%, or nearly 65 million, U.S. American adults who are 30 years or older suffer from some type of periodontal disease? This occurs when unhealthy bacteria in your mouth form plaque along your gumline, allowing them to penetrate your connective tissues. This triggers an infection that progressively worsens the longer they go untreated.
The earliest stage, gingivitis, can sometimes be halted and even reversed by flossing more frequently as part of a consistent twice-daily dental hygiene routine. But if the disease advances into periodontitis, the more advanced stage, it can often be managed but not completely cured.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
The different stages of periodontal disease present with slightly different symptoms, and understanding the various signs can help you recognize when you have a problem and need to seek treatment.
Potential indicators of gingivitis can include:
- Darker or red connective tissues
- Tenderness or increased sensitivity
- Chronic bad breath, or halitosis
- Bleeding or oozing when you brush and floss
- Early gum recession
You might have developed periodontitis if you notice the following symptoms:
- Increased sensitivity or aches, especially while chewing
- A change in bite alignment
- Ill-fitting restorations, such as dentures
- Loose adult teeth
- Loss of one or more permanent teeth
- More severe gum recession
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Dr. Whittaker offers several potential methods to help address gum disease and improve your dental health, but not every option is right for each patient. Before proceeding, you must schedule an examination and consultation so our team can provide a customized treatment plan to meet your unique needs.
A deep cleaning with scaling and root planning is the standard way to halt periodontal problems in their tracks, but our team offers several additional services, outlined in more detail below.
Scaling & Root Planing
This deep cleaning usually requires two separate appointments. First, our team will carefully clean your mouth using specialized dental instruments that can reach deeply into the pockets of your gums. This helps remove even the most stubborn and well-hidden plaque and bacteria causing the infection.
Then, after your gums have recovered, we’ll schedule another visit to carefully and gently smooth the roots of your teeth to prevent germs from gathering and encourage your tissues to reconnect with your enamel.
Antibiotic Treatment
We can also prescribe antibiotics as a pill that you can swallow, which helps reduce harmful bacteria residing in your oral cavity. This is often offered in conjunction with other services, but can sometimes be helpful as a standalone treatment.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
Our team is equipped with state-of-the-art lasers that can be used to kill harmful bacteria, remove diseased tissue, or reshape your gumline to improve your dental health. This method minimizes bleeding and, because it cauterizes the site, provides faster recovery times, as there is no need for a scalpel or sutures.
Chao Pinhole Technique
If your receding gums have left the roots of your teeth overly exposed, you’re prone to developing sensitivity, aches, decay, or injuries. This procedure involves creating tiny pinholes in your connective tissues, allowing them to stretch more easily so Dr. Whittaker can massage them and encourage them to reform over your roots to shield them.