Periodontal Treatment in Whitby, ON
Protect Your Gums With Periodontal Treatment
Your gums are the foundation of your smile, and caring for them is just as important as caring for your teeth. At Dentistry on Dundas, our Whitby dentists offer periodontal treatment, which aids in preventing gum disease and saving your oral health after an infection has set in. Keep reading to learn more about periodontal disease and our options for preventing and treating it.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease or gum disease refers to infections of the gum tissue and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The main cause of periodontal diseases is the build-up of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a whitish or yellowish sticky substance that results from bacteria mixing with food particles in your mouth. It sticks to your teeth and builds up around the gums where if left alone it will harden into tartar. Tartar buildup can only be removed with professional dental cleanings.
Plaque and tartar are full of bacteria that feed off the sugars in your mouth and produce acid as waste. These substances infect and eat away at the gum tissue, causing periodontal disease.
Other causes of periodontal disease include
- Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis
- Sugar-rich diets
- Tobacco use
- Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism)
- Certain medications
- Malnutrition
- Stress
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
Signs of Periodontal Disease
The best way to fight periodontal disease is to treat it during its earliest symptoms. Be on the lookout for the following signs:
- Loose teeth
- Bite changes
- Dentures or bridges not fitting correctly
- Defective fillings
- Persistent bad breath
- Metal taste in your mouth
- Pus between gums/teeth
- Sores that don’t improve after two weeks
- Tender or swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Gum recession
If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact our Whitby dental office by dialing (905) 666-1555. The sooner symptoms are identified, the sooner periodontal treatment can be administered and the more effective treatment will be.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest and most easy-to-treat stage of periodontal disease. Infection and any damage can be halted or even reversed with treatments like professional cleanings and refining your at-home oral hygiene routine. The reason gingivitis often develops into more advanced stages is that the symptoms are very subtle and you may not even notice any problems at all.
Initial Periodontitis
Initial periodontitis is the next stage of periodontal disease, where the damage to your gum tissue begins to set in. While it causes lasting damage, initial periodontitis can usually be halted with professional deep cleanings and by practicing proper oral hygiene.
Moderate Periodontitis
Moderate periodontitis is where the damage to your soft tissues and oral structures becomes more severe. At this point, bacteria from your mouth are capable of entering your bloodstream, potentially causing problems with other parts of your body. You’ll likely need professional deep cleanings and antibiotics, alongside a refined oral hygiene routine. Your Whitby dentist is also likely to recommend multiple follow-up visits in the months after periodontal treatment to ensure the infection doesn’t return.
Advanced Periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis is the most destructive stage of periodontal disease. Tooth loss becomes much more likely and you’ll experience bleeding and severe pain when you try to clean your teeth. Advanced periodontitis requires multiple treatments and surgical intervention to save your oral health, as well as periodontal treatment follow-ups to ensure the infection doesn’t return.
Our Periodontal Treatment Options
Dentistry On Dundas features many options for preventing and treating all stages of gum disease ranging from routine exams to periodontal plastic surgeries. Also known as perio-plastic surgeries, these procedures can help treat periodontal disease while repairing the structural and aesthetic damage caused by the infection. Keep reading to learn more about some of the periodontal treatments we may offer.
Proper Oral Hygiene and Regular Dental Exams
The best treatment for periodontal disease is prevention. Simply keeping up with your exams and practicing proper at-home dental care can go a long way in keeping your gums healthy. Taking these steps is also vital when early-stage periodontal disease has set in because it helps control your symptoms and may even cure the infection if caught early on.
To keep your gums healthy, our Whitby dentists recommend the following:
- Brush for at least two minutes twice a day
- Floss at least once a day, especially before bed
- Rinse between meals
- Visit our Whitby dental office at least twice a year or as recommended for exams
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are non-surgical deep cleanings that allow your Whitby dentist to remove bacteria and improve your oral health. During the scaling phase, the bacteria-laden build-up is gently scraped away from around your teeth and beneath your gum line. Afterward, the roots of your teeth are planed, or smoothed, to discourage any further growth of bacteria and help the gums reattach to the bone. The process will help your gums recover from the infection and greatly improves the look of your smile.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections. Oral antibiotics come in the form of a pill while topical antibiotics are applied to the affected area. Antibiotics can be used in combination with other procedures to increase the effectiveness of your treatment.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is an aesthetic procedure that involves the removal and reshaping of gum tissue. Crown lengthening removes pockets where bacteria are likely to grow and gives your Whitby dentist room to access teeth damaged by infection. Removing any tissue that’s too damaged to heal properly will also help your gums recover from infection sooner and greatly improve the look of your smile.
Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation can be used to address deformities caused by periodontal disease. Ridge augmentation reshapes the alveolar ridge or the upper part of the jaw that holds the sockets of the teeth. When severe resorption takes place, such as the kind caused by more advanced stages of gum disease, this ridge can become deformed. Surgically placing transplanted bone matter corrects the shape of the gums and jawbone and strengthens the jaw against infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Periodontal treatment should be at least partially covered by your insurance provider or any other government health insurance provider you have a plan with. Our dentists and dental team encourage you to contact your provider beforehand to confirm which costs they can cover.
If you need help affording your treatment, we offer many flexible financing options, including Paybright. Rest assured that we’ll work with you to help you afford your necessary treatment, so you can achieve a healthy smile.
In the earliest stage of gingivitis, periodontal disease is completely reversible. However, once it progresses to periodontitis, the damage is permanent. Early treatment is key to reversing gum disease, so if you notice any possible symptoms you should get in touch with our dental office as soon as possible.
It isn’t recommended that you try to treat your periodontal disease without professional help. Even in the early stages, professional treatment will help ensure the infection is treated properly. You may think you see a reduction in symptoms only for the disease to get worse.
Instead of trying to treat your periodontal disease on your own, you may want to follow this advice to control your symptoms alongside undergoing professional treatment:
- Practice proper oral hygiene
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
- Reduce your sugar intake
- Rinse with warm salt water or mouthwash designed for periodontal disease between meals
- Stay hydrated
- Replace your toothbrush every three months
- Choose a soft-bristle toothbrush
- If possible, use an electric toothbrush
Periodontal disease on its own isn’t usually life-threatening. However, more advanced stages of gum disease can significantly damage your smile and make you more vulnerable to other more serious diseases. That’s why it’s important to seek professional treatment as soon as you notice possible signs of gum disease.
The length of time for your periodontal disease treatment will largely depend on the specifics of your case. This includes factors such as how severe your periodontal disease is, what kind of treatment you’ll be undergoing, and how well you care for your teeth and gums. Your dentist will go over the specifics of your treatment and give you a more accurate estimate for your time frame during your initial consultation.
Visit Dentistry on Dundas for Effective Periodontal Treatment Near You
The skilled dentists at Dentistry on Dundas are here for patients who want to prevent periodontal disease and those who need treatment for any stage of the disease. We offer periodontal treatment to patients from Whitby and surrounding areas such as Oshawa, Ajax, and Courtice, ON.
Learn more about our possible periodontal treatment options by dialing (905) 666-1555. You can also book an appointment by filling out the contact form below. One of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.
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