Gum Disease Treatment Altavista
Stopping Gum Disease in Its Tracks
When asked to define the most common health problems in the world, “gum disease” probably wouldn’t be high on the list. But in fact, 65 million people suffer from it here in the United States, with many cases leading to permanent tooth loss. At Hooks Family Dentistry, we’re very familiar with this condition and how it can sneak into a patient’s smile unnoticed. That’s why we provide in-depth periodontal screenings at every dental checkup, as well as focused gum disease treatment in Altavista when signs of an infection are found. Give our office a call today to schedule yours.
Why Choose Hooks Family Dentistry for Gum Disease Treatment?
- We Accept Dental Insurance
- Experienced Dental Team
- Flexible Financing Available
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection caused by a buildup of harmful oral bacteria along the gumline and in the pockets of the gums. With time, the infection can attack the hard and soft supportive tissues surrounding the teeth, causing them to deteriorate. As a result of this, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States. Because of this, our team strives to diagnose and treat the issue as early as possible, preventing permanent damage to your smile.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
There are several symptoms associated with the onset of gum disease, and patients are encouraged to sound the warning bell when they pop up. They include:
- Gum tissue that regularly bleeds after brushing or flossing.
- Gum tissue that looks overly red in color, swollen, or tender to the touch.
- Excessive, lingering bad breath, even after diligent brushing and/or mouthwash use.
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Teeth that appear excessively long over time.
How We Treat Gum Disease
The gum disease treatment option that we recommend will depend on a couple of factors that our team will discuss with you during your examination, including the progression of the condition and your symptoms. Once our team has evaluated these concerns, we may recommend scaling and root planing, PerioChip® antibiotic treatment, or both.
Scaling & Root Planing
Gum disease has stages of severity, starting with gingivitis. Gingivitis can typically be reversed as long as the patient undergoes more frequent cleanings than normal. However, the more advanced stage of the disease (periodontitis) will take a much stronger and more in-depth approach to keep under control. That’s where scaling and root planing comes in.
Scaling and root planing is a next level cleaning that targets the areas of your mouth that aren’t immediately visible. We’ll start with the scaling portion, which removes harmful bacteria and accumulations of plaque from underneath your gum tissue. Then, during the root planing portion, we’ll carefully smooth the rough surfaces along the tooth roots, which are known breeding grounds for plaque and bacteria as well. By the end of the procedure, we hope to leave your smile feeling fresh and stop the advancement of the infection.
PerioChip® Antibiotic Treatment
PerioChip antibiotic treatment is typically recommended in combination with scaling and root planing to control the accumulation of harmful oral bacteria and prevent worsening gum disease symptoms. We’ll place a biodegradable chip that contains Chlorhexidine Gluconate in the pockets of the gums to reduce their depth and target the site of the infection.