Treatments for Gum Disease

Providing a Lifetime of Dentistry that Cares

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an incredibly common problem, with over half of all American adults having some form of periodontitis, by the age of 30, and 70%+ of adults over the age 65, who are currently suffering from advanced gum disease.

Gum disease or periodontal disease, which manifests itself as inflammation and/or infection of the gums, can lead to deterioration of the jawbone if it is left untreated for long enough. Periodontal disease is the most common cause for loss of teeth in adults, even more so than decay.

There are many significant health problems that occur in adults, that are associated with gum disease, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. While these are harrowing statistics, the good news is that with proper oral health interventions, periodontal disease can be reversed and dramatic improvements to one’s health can be made.

At Brook West Family Dentistry, we are committed to providing our patients with the care and support they need. If you believe you may be suffering from gum disease and would like to schedule an appointment or have any questions concerning gum disease, please contact our staff, who will be happy to answer any and all of your questions. We are proud to provide one-of-a-kind personalized care that is tailored to your unique needs.

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Warning Signs for Gum Disease

If you are worried that you may have developed some form of gum disease, please review the following types of gum disease, and their symptoms, and schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Gingivitis: This is the most common type of gum disease and the earliest stage of periodontitis. Gingivitis is normally the result of plaque that has built up around the edges of the gums. Early warning signs include irritated, swollen, or puffy gums. If left untreated long enough, gingivitis can advance to more advanced serious forms of gum disease which can seriously damage your oral health. Deep cleanings can generally help address this issue, along with taking steps to improve your at-home oral health routine.

Early Periodontitis: This is cause by a more aggressive build-up of bacteria and is a more severe form of gum disease that needs to be treated right away. Common symptoms include excessive bleeding from the gums, and plaque build-up that has spread to below the patients gum line. If you have reached this stage, you will most likely need to schedule deep cleanings, regular follow ups, and potentially have tissue and root therapy.

Advanced Periodontitis: This is when the buildup of the bacteria, toxins, and plaque is so great that it has begun to destroy gum tissue, and surrounding bone, which then develops pockets between the teeth and gums, where bacteria collects. This then causes the pockets to increase and the gums to begin receding. Eventually, the infection will begin to deteriorate the bone. If you have reached this stage, you may need to schedule advanced treatments, which include bone grafting, gingival grafting, and pocket reduction therapy.

Gum recession is another common side effect of gum disease or periodontitis. When a patient has repeated or consistent infection in their gums, pockets can begin to form between the teeth and the gums. Eventually this causes the gums to shrink back from the tooth. After the diseased gum tissue dies, the recession continues to increase. If left untreated long enough, the gum can eventually recede back to the root of the tooth.

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Avoiding Gum Disease

Despite its prevalence among adults, gum disease is completely preventable provided you follow a good and consistent oral health routine and continue scheduling regular dental cleanings.

Be sure that you continue brushing your teeth twice a day at a minimum, and generally first thing in the morning and then again at night. There are also many effective mouthwashes on the market that work to address gum disease.

In addition to consistently brushing your teeth, flossing is an incredibly powerful defense against the buildup of plaque. If you want to truly limit your likelihood of developing gum disease, flossing once a day is one of the most effective methods for doing so.

Another way to help prevent gum disease from developing is to maintain a healthy diet and have a regular exercise routine. Doing both of these things not only improves your oral health, but your overall body health as well.

Finally, scheduling regular dental checkups and cleanings twice a year is an incredibly effective way to both prevent gum disease from developing, and catching gum disease early, and beginning treatment.

Associated Costs

As is the case with most dental procedures, if you need to have procedures done to address your gum disease, what and how much of that procedure will be covered will ultimately be determined by your specific insurance plan. Still, many insurance plans cover most procedures for treating gum disease, although they may not cover the entire cost. If you are not currently covered by an insurance plan, or if you have any questions about payment options, please contact our staff who will be happy to discuss your options with you.

Care You Can Trust

At Brook West Family Dentistry, we are committed to building positive, long-standing relationships with our patients. The way we achieve this is by using state of the art technologies, compassionate and carefully planned services, high-quality work, and personalized care that always places the needs of the individual client first. If you would like to meet our team, take a tour of our facilities, or have any questions concerning gum disease, our knowledgeable staff is happy to answer your questions.

Taking steps to address gum disease can make a remarkable difference in your overall oral health. in the lives of those with damaged teeth. Scheduling your appointment is the first step towards a confident, healthy smile. To begin your journey towards the perfect smile, please contact us to set up an appointment at (763) 561-2273.

At Brook West Family Dentistry, we are passionate about your smile and committed to providing you with the quality care you need!

Comprehensive Dental Services

We offer comprehensive care for all your dental needs, from dental cleanings to full cosmetic dentistry we work improve your smile.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

The first thing most people notice about you is your smile. Advances in cosmetic dental care have made it possible for a dentist with the right training, qualifications and expertise to completely redesign your smile.

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Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are used to address issues like stains, chips, and discolored teeth, and can also improve a crooked tooth or teeth that are at an unwanted length or size. The actual veneers are incredibly thin, custom made shells that are designed to match the specific color of your teeth and cover the front surface of the selected teeth.

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Dental Implants

Dental implants are the closest replacement to a natural tooth and they are designed to allow patients to complete their smile and begin chewing and biting like they used to. Dental implants also help maintain the integrity of the jawbone, and actively save the jaw from additional bone loss.

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Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry refers to the sedation of a patient during a procedure. There are various forms of sedation that a dentist may choose from, and there are different levels of sedation dentistry.

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