What This Page Covers:
- Symptoms: Swollen, red, tender, or bleeding gums may indicate periodontal disease. Other symptoms include loose teeth, painful chewing, persistent bad breath, and receding gums. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to bone loss, tooth loss, and gum tissue recession.
- Stages: Gum disease progresses from gingivitis (reversible with no bone loss) to mild periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. As the condition advances, it can cause irreversible damage to the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth.
- Treatments: Depending on the severity, treatments for gum disease include professional dental cleanings, scaling and root planing, pocket reduction surgery, bone grafting, gum grafting, and crown lengthening. Early intervention can prevent extensive damage and costly procedures.
- Birch Family Dental: We provide comprehensive periodontal care in Green River, offering personalized treatment plans to restore your oral health. Our experienced team ensures improved oral and overall health, preventing further issues and supporting you throughout the process.
If your gums are swollen, red, tender, or bleed easily, you may have periodontal disease. Other common symptoms include loose teeth, pain when chewing, bad breath, and receding gums that make your teeth appear longer than normal. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a degenerative condition most commonly caused by bacteria found in plaque, which inflames and infects the gum tissues. If left untreated, the gums can eventually begin to pull away from the teeth, which may result in bone loss, tooth loss, and gum tissue recession.
At Birch Family Dental, we understand the importance of treating gum disease quickly, so we provide high-quality, comprehensive services to Green River patients. Depending on the severity of the condition, our dentist may recommend more professional dental cleanings, scaling and root planing, improved oral hygiene habits, antibiotic treatment, or gum surgery. We work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan that restores your oral health and smile.
What Are the Four Stages of Gum Disease?
Nearly half of all U.S. adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, which is a common issue our dentists see in patients. Periodontal disease occurs when plaque builds up under and around the gum line. The bacteria in plaque infect and inflame the gums, causing the soft tissue around teeth to gradually break down.
This process occurs in the following stages, which range in severity and treatment options:
- Gingivitis: The earliest stage of gum disease that begins with red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth. There is no bone loss in this stage, and it is entirely reversible.
- Mild Periodontitis: During this stage, bacteria has gone beneath the gum line and started to affect your tooth’s supporting bone structure, causing the gums to pull away from the teeth and create pockets for bacteria and plaque to hide.
- Moderate Periodontitis: If the previous two stages are left untreated, bacteria can erode the soft tissue and bone that hold your teeth in place. You may feel pain during this stage and notice pus around the gum line.
- Advanced Periodontitis: As bone loss from periodontal disease progresses, the teeth may loosen and fall out.
When caught and treated early, periodontal disease is reversible. However, as the condition progresses, treatment becomes more extensive and may become too advanced to reverse completely. With regular dental visits and cleanings, our well-trained dentists can help you identify the signs of gum disease and the treatment you need to restore your oral health.
5 Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease in Green River?
The treatment you get for your gum disease depends on its severity, your health history, and personal preferences. For example, if you have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, we may recommend additional dental cleanings and improved oral hygiene habits to remove harmful bacteria and reverse the condition. However, for more progressed periodontal disease, you may receive one or more of the following treatments:
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning that removes plaque and bacteria beneath your gums where floss and a toothbrush cannot reach. During this treatment, we scale or remove plaque from your teeth and smooth the root’s surface to prevent bacteria from reattaching and wearing away at the soft tissue. This is typically the treatment used for mild periodontitis.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
For moderate to advanced cases of periodontitis, surgery may be necessary to remove the plaque that cannot be reached in a regular or deep cleaning. During pocket reduction surgery, your periodontist makes a small incision in the gums to create a flap that exposes the tooth roots. Next, the plaque, tartar, and bacteria get cleaned from your teeth, and the roots get smoothed. Once done, your periodontist will reposition the gums and close the incision. This procedure is often combined with other surgeries to achieve optimal oral health.
Bone Grafting
If you have lost bone tissue from gum disease, a bone graft may be necessary to replace lost tissue. This procedure involves placing graft material where the bone has been lost, which acts as a placeholder to allow your body to regenerate your own bone over time.
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) may also be used during this procedure to help repair broken-down bone and prevent soft tissue from growing in these areas. Because soft tissue regenerates faster than bone tissue, an artificial membrane is placed between your gums and the grafting material to keep space open for new bone to grow.
Gum Grafting
Like bone grafting, gum grafting is a procedure that replaces lost gum tissue. Periodontal disease can cause the gums to recede, exposing the tooth roots. Gum grafting uses grafting material or tissue from the roof of your mouth to cover the exposed roots and thicken your gum line.
Crown Lengthening
If your tooth has broken below the gum line or you have insufficient tooth structure from gum disease, we may recommend crown lengthening, which exposes more of your tooth to place a restoration, such as a crown or bridge.
What Are the Benefits of Periodontal Care With Birch Family Dental?
If you experience symptoms of periodontal disease, such as bleeding or swollen gums, bad breath, and sensitivity, it is essential to act quickly and seek periodontal care from a trusted professional. At Birch Family Dental, our high-quality dental services offer Green River patients the following benefits:
- Pain Relief: Gum disease can be painful, but with the right treatment, you can enjoy life pain-free.
- Improved Oral Health: We can help you catch your gum disease early and provide treatment that reverses the condition and improves your oral health.
- Overall Health Improvement: The bacteria that causes gum disease can also put you at risk of other health conditions because the bacteria can spread through the bloodstream. Seeking periodontal care can minimize these risks and improve your overall health.
- Prevent Further Issues and Costs: Treating gum disease with the help of our knowledgeable professionals helps prevent further damage to your gums, which can prevent the need for extensive and costly procedures down the road.
Our caring team supports you before, during, and after your gum disease treatment so you never feel alone and have all the information you need to make the best decisions for your oral health.
Reach Out to the Experienced Team at Birch Family Dental to Learn More About Periodontal Care in Green River, WY
At Birch Family Dental, we prioritize your oral health and are dedicated to providing top-notch periodontal care. Our experienced team uses the latest techniques and personalized treatment plans to address gum disease effectively. By acting quickly and seeking our professional care, you can restore your gum health, alleviate pain, and prevent further complications.
With over 40 years of providing the same top-tier services using modern technology, you can rely on the skilled team at Birch Family Dental to help you achieve a healthy, bright smile. We are the only practice in the area with a nurse anesthetist, so if you need surgery for your gum disease, we have the specialists to give you the best results. Don’t wait to address symptoms of periodontal disease. Contact us today at (307) 875-3658 or visit our contact form to schedule an appointment.
