Restore the health and beauty of your smile with periodontal care
According to the World Health Organization, 75 percent of Americans will develop gum disease at one point in their life or the other. Gum disease does not just affect your oral health, which could require restorative dental treatment, but also your overall health. If left untreated, it has the potential to leave you vulnerable to different types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
At Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, we are dedicated to maintaining your oral health by preventing periodontal disease from taking root in your mouth.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is caused by the accumulation of plaque and bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria produce acid that damage your teeth and the soft tissues, including the gums of your mouth. If left untreated, gum disease can result in loss of tooth.
Periodontal disease has three main stages. Although Dr. Jonathan Golab can give you a diagnosis of the health of your gums, it is important to recognize the symptoms by yourself.
Gingivitis
The first phase is called gingivitis. In this early stage, the damage done by the bacteria is reversible. The stage is marked by red, inflamed and swollen gums that are prone to bleeding during brushing and flossing. You may also experience bad breath during this stage.
Periodontitis
If allowed to progress, gingivitis turns into periodontitis, which is a more serious condition. This phase is characterized by some damage to the soft tissue of the mouth, very swollen and inflamed gums which bleed excessively, a slight recession of the gums, a metallic taste in the mouth and slightly loose teeth.
Advanced Periodontitis
As the disease advances, it will result in actual loss of your bone and surrounding hard tissue as well as the loss of soft tissue and ligaments that support the teeth. This results in loose teeth with wide gaps. The gums are severely receded from the teeth and pus forms in the deep pockets. The damage to the mouth is severe, and tooth extraction becomes necessary in many cases.
Preventive Treatment for Periodontal Disease
The main thing to prevent periodontal disease from progressing is to clean out the calculus and bacteria from the mouth to prevent hard and soft tissue destruction.
Treatment involves some of the following peridontal maintenance options:
Cleaning
Practicing good oral hygiene at home and coming to regular cleaning visits at Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA can stop the progression of the disease and reverse some of the damage. You need to brush your teeth twice a day every day and floss them daily. We may recommend the use of electronic brushes for better cleaning.
Scaling and Root Planing
We will use an ultrasonic device to shake loose some of the larger pieces of calculus and debris from your teeth. We will also use a scaler to scrape off the remaining tartar. A planing device will be used to smooth the surface of your teeth so that bacteria cannot find purchase on the teeth.
Cleaning is typically recommended twice a year but we may recommend more visits, depending on the condition of your teeth and mouth.
Medication
Antibiotics will be used in combination with your preventive treatments. These include:
- Antibacterial mouth wash like chlorhexidine to fight off bacteria.
- Antiobiotic gel containing doxycycline that manages bacteria and helps to shrink gum pockets.
- Enzyme suppressants which prevent break down of gum tissues.
- Oral capsules taken to fight off infection.
- Triclosan toothpaste, which includes fluoride and fight of tartar and gum disease.
Periodontal disease can turn your pearly-white teeth and healthy gums into a mouth that requires surgical intervention. However, you can prevent this by taking proper periodontal care.
Learn to recognize the signs of early gingivitis and contact us at (469) 444-2119 to schedule a visit so that we can treat the disease in its initial stages.