Periodontics Can Help Your Gums Look and Feel Better

Periodontics is the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease, which is the inflammation and infection of the gums, ligaments and bones which support the teeth. As a general dentist, we treat both gums and teeth in order to ensure that you have the highest chance of retaining all or the majority of your natural teeth as you age. We work on all of the structures that are behind the scenes, ensuring that your mouth is healthy, that your teeth are perfect, and you have a bright and radiant smile. Besides working with the roots, gums, bone, and ligaments, we also specialize in dental implants in the event that you do experience tooth loss.  This is one of the most effective ways to replace teeth that have either fallen out or need to be replaced.

We also work with many different ailments that affect the mouth. Periodontal diseases range from simple inflammation of the gums to serious infections that can severely damage the gums and even cause tooth loss. Typically, gum disease starts with relatively minor symptoms.  The gums may be slightly sensitive, bleed while brushing, or appear to be red and inflamed. This stage is commonly referred to as gingivitis and is easily treated.  By simply performing a deep cleaning and removing plaque and tartar from under the gum line, we can help the gums to heal.  Typically, after this cleaning they will regain their natural appearance and won't cause further discomfort.  In our dentist office, we prefer to treat the disease at this stage because it prevents our patients from feeling further discomfort.

During regular dental exams, we will let you know if you may have gum disease.  If caught early enough, we will perform a deep cleaning, and that will be all that is needed.  However, if the disease has advanced, the treatment options become more intense.  With periodontics, gum disease can be treated when the gums have already started to recede.  This is a common symptom of the disease and fairly easy to recognize.  When you are brushing your teeth or smiling, pay attention to your gums and look to see if they appear to be shorter and your teeth appear to be longer.  This is the most common and obvious sign of gum recession.  As the gums continue to pull away from the tooth, pockets can be formed in the gum tissue.  This is particularly dangerous because bacteria can gather there and form acid which attacks the exposed tooth structure and roots.  When this form of gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to bone loss as the acid wears away the tooth structure.  This is why people that suffer from gum disease often experience tooth loss as they age.

We can treat the condition using various periodontics procedures.  In the case of receding gums, a gum graft may be necessary to seal up the pocket and secure the gums back around the tooth.  This procedure will prevent the bone loss that could otherwise occur.  Once done, patients typically report feeling far more comfortable while eating and drinking as well.

In periodontics, there are also procedures that are more cosmetic in nature. For example, a periodontist can reshape gums that are too large for the teeth. Our priority, however, is oral health and our gum treatments focus around health concerns.  We understand that without healthy gums, your teeth cannot remain healthy and strong as you age.  To that end, we recommend scheduling teeth cleanings for at least twice a year so that we can remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth and gums.  If we notice any signs of gum disease, we will recommend treating it right away before you experience any further discomfort or irritation.

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Signs That You Should Visit a Root Canal Dentist

Many patients are unsure if they need to see a root canal dentist but are concerned about the health of their teeth or are experiencing tooth pain.  It is important to keep in mind that most dentists can perform a root canal but by visiting a specialist, your level of care can improve.  As with any medical procedure, when you see an expert there is less of a chance that there will be complications, the procedure is done faster, and discomfort is minimized.  As they say, practice makes perfect, and the same holds true for dentistry.

There are some signs you can watch for that will give you a good indication that it is time to schedule an appointment.

• Tooth pain that won't go away.  It is common to have tooth pain from time to time.  In fact, if you experience pain - brush and floss your teeth.  Sometimes food is stuck in there without you realizing it and simply flossing can make the pain go away after a few minutes.  If the pain is persistent and gets worse when you bite down, this is a sign that you need to call a root canal dentist. 
• Your tooth is darkening.  Teeth become stained but when they do it is typically a yellowish color.  If your tooth gets dark all of a sudden, that is a sign of a major infection and warrants an office visit. 
• Breath that smells really bad!  Everyone can experience bad breath after eating strong smelling cheese or garlic fries – that's normal.  If, however, your breath smells terrible after brushing and flossing and continues to smell bad – that is typically a sign of an infection or a lot of bacteria in your mouth.  When you visit the dentist, we can remove that bacteria and look for signs of infection in order to remove it.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.  If your tooth is infected, it will likely become more sensitive.  If you eat an ice cream and your tooth hurts once; that isn't a cause for concern.  Teeth, like any area of the body, can be sensitive from time to time.  If, however, this happens on a regular basis with hot, cold or both, you should schedule an appointment to have your teeth examined. 

A root canal dentist can identify any infected teeth and remove the infection. This is important because when a root canal is completed correctly, it makes it possible for your natural tooth to be saved instead of needing to be pulled.  In this scenario, the dental pulp (soft center of the tooth) is what becomes infected.  The dentist removes this area of the tooth and will often remove the roots as well.  Once your adult teeth are in place, the roots are no longer necessary.  Removing them won't impact the long-term functionality of your tooth but if they are infected, they must be removed in order to prevent the infection from spreading into your jaw.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a dental exam right away.

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