Healthy gums are an important part of overall health. Gum disease is linked to other health concerns, including diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. Make an appointment with us in our Chaska and Mound, MN dental offices to examine your condition and begin gum treatment as needed.
Your gums, ligaments and jaw bones provide the foundational structure for your teeth. These areas are called the periodontium. In the same way that a poor foundation could damage a house, when the periodontium is unhealthy, the health of your teeth is also put into jeopardy. The following symptoms could be an indication of gum disease: puffy, red or bleeding gums; regularly foul breath; receding gums; loose teeth and changes in the positioning or bite of your teeth. At West Lakes Dentistry, we can evaluate your symptoms, provide diagnosis and offer several options for treatment of gum disease. Call today.
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With advancements in modern dentistry, gum disease treatment can often be performed with minimally invasive techniques. These procedures include antibiotics, deep cleanings, and medicated rinses. Depending on your unique case, we may find that surgery is the best option instead.
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Diagnosis of Gum Disease
We always take care to provide personalized treatments for our patients. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment. Early diagnosis can make a difference in the treatment you will need. We will inform you of all of your options together with our recommendations for your unique needs.
Tender, red, swollen, and bleeding gums are all signs of gum disease. If you’ve noticed any of these, we recommend that you visit our practice as soon as possible for periodontal care. Left untreated, gum disease can become progressively worse, developing from its mildest form, gingivitis, to a severe condition, periodontitis.
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Scaling & Root Planing
Buildup of calculus beneath the gum line provides a habitat for bacteria to collect that cannot be removed through normal means like brushing or flossing your teeth. When this bacteria is present, an immune response is triggered, called periodontitis. As the body attempts to fight the infection, you may notice inflammation, soreness and other symptoms. If left untreated, the infection and swelling will continue beyond the gum line, which can lead to the damaging of bone integrity and the loss of teeth.
Once gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, more advanced treatments are required to help prevent further spread of gum disease. In the scaling and root planing procedure, we will clean away the built up calculus, bacteria and toxins that are present beneath the gum line. This procedure is different than a regular dental cleaning. While a typical cleaning targets the surface of your teeth, in between your teeth and above the gum line, with scaling and root planing, we use special tools to remove the plaque, calculus and other build up from under the gum line. For your comfort, local anesthetic is typically used.
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| Local Anesthetic (numbing) Required | X | |
| Calculus, plaque, and debris removed at and above the gum line | X | |
| Calculus, plaque, bacteria and debris removed below the gum line | X | |
| Antibiotics prescribed for healing | X | |
| Root of tooth smoothed and shaped to remove bacteria | X |
Long-Term Maintenance Plans
Our recommendations for gum disease treatments will vary based on the severity of your case. The good news is that there are treatments available for gum disease, and it can be cured. Please note, however, that the process can require several “maintenance” visits, which will likely occur every three months. During these visits, your dentist will check on the health of your teeth, gums and bone to ensure the healing process is occurring and that the bacteria has not come back. Depending on your situation, you may need to continue with these regular maintenance checks, or you may be able to go back to a regular dental checkup schedule of every six months.
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