Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy
Gum disease is common as people age, but that does not mean it needs to be inevitable. However, even people who otherwise take excellent care of their teeth can overlook the importance of their gums. The good news is that periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, may be reversible when detected and treated early.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease describes a bacterial infection that originates in the gums. Here are the most common signs of gum disease in people of all ages:
- Bleeding gums after brushing, flossing, or sometimes eating
- Constant mouth pain
- Gums feel tender to the touch
- Loose teeth
- Misalignment of some teeth
- Mouth sores
- Partial dentures no longer fit correctly
- Persistent bad breath
- Pockets form in the small space between the teeth and gums
- Pus in gum pockets
- Red and swollen gums
- Some teeth appear longer than others due to a receding gum line
Patients who notice any of these symptoms should contact Western Slope Dental Center to schedule periodontal (gum) disease treatment in Grand Junction, CO right away. Patients with only mild symptoms have gingivitis rather than full gum disease, which is typically reversible. Untreated gingivitis can quickly develop into periodontitis or aggressive periodontitis. These diagnoses represent the second and third phases of gum disease.
Gum Disease Treatment Options
The dentists at Western Slope Dental Center offer both surgical and non-surgical interventions to reverse or improve gum disease. Scaling and root planing is one of the oldest and most common ways to treat this oral health condition. During scaling and root planing, a dental hygienist uses ultrasonic instruments and hand scalers to deep clean the teeth and gums by removing plaque and tartar from behind the gum tissues.
Other possible treatment options for gum disease include gum grafting, which involves moving healthy gum tissue from another area of the mouth to the infected area. During crown lengthening, our dentist removes gum tissue covering the teeth to expose more teeth and less gums when patients smile.
Patients interested in periodontal (gum) disease treatment in Grand Junction, CO should schedule a consultation to learn more about these and other available options.
