Gum Disease Treatment
WHAT IS GUM DISEASE?
Your gums help protect and hold your teeth in place so it’s definitely something you want to look after! Gum Disease is an infection of your gums and is more formally known as Peridontitis.
With gum disease (Periodontitis), your gum tissue and bone are progressively destroyed. Your tooth may become loose and in advanced stages, tooth loss may occur. The damage from gum disease not reversible and your dentist can only stop further damage from occurring.
You can avoid gum disease through good oral hygiene (brush and floss twice a day!) and by seeing your dentist regularly for a checkup and clean. Remember, your toothbrush is amazing at removing plaque but once tartar has formed, only your dentist can remove it safely
HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I HAVE GUM DISEASE?
Proceeding Gum Disease / Periodontitis is Gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by the build-up of plaque, causing your gums to become inflamed and swollen. This often results in your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth. Gingivitis can be reversed leaving little to no long-lasting effects. Left untreated, Gingivitis often advances to Peridontitis. Symptoms of Gingivitis and Gum Disease / Peridontitis include:
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that bleed during and after brushing
• Receding gumline
• Gum soreness
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
Proper identification and treatment of Gingivitis are important to ensure it does not progress into Gum Disease / Peridontitis. Periodontitis is a very serious condition that needs to be treated immediately to avoid tooth loss and under certain circumstances, Periodontitis increases your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes or other health conditions. It can be very difficult to distinguish between Gingivitis and Gum Disease / Periodontitis so it is important that you see a dentist to correctly diagnose your oral health.
Gingivitis can be reversed and the progression of Gum Disease / Periodontitis can be stopped. The first thing Dr Maher will do is to determine which stage you are in to ensure he has the right treatment plan for you.
Ideally, we’ll be able to treat you with a simple Scale and Clean. This is a deep-clean where we remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline. Sometimes, Root Planing may be required where we smooth rough spots to remove bacteria and provide your gums with a clean smooth surface to reattach to your teeth. These are both non-invasive, non-surgical procedures that require very little or no healing time. To learn more about these procedures.
If your gum disease is more progressed, more complex surgical treatments may be required. Dr Maher will go through all the options possible with you (from flap surgery, soft tissue grafts, etc) to determine the best possible treatment for you.
Book a consultation with our award-winning dentist and get your overall oral health assessed and any concerns you have addressed. Your premier dentist is conveniently located in the heart of Wentworth Point (Olympic Park), Sydney.