At our dental care practice in Heights, TX, we prioritize the health of your gums as a vital part of maintaining a healthy smile. Periodontics focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating gum disease, ensuring that your gums remain healthy. Whether you are experiencing the early stages of gum disease or require advanced care, our expert team is here to protect your smile and improve your overall health. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward healthier gums.
What Is Periodontics?
Periodontics is a specialized field that focuses on gum health and the supporting structures of your teeth. Periodontists diagnose and treat gum disease, restore gum tissue, and perform procedures to improve both the appearance and health of your gums.
The Link Between Periodontal Health & Overall Health
Your gum health is closely connected to your overall well-being. Research shows that periodontal disease is linked to several systemic health conditions, including:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Respiratory issues
By keeping your gums healthy, you not only protect your teeth but also reduce the risk of these health conditions.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is a bacterial infection affecting the gums and bone. It starts as gingivitis (gum inflammation) and can progress to severe stages if untreated. Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults and has significant effects on both oral and overall health.
Stages & Symptoms Of Periodontal Disease
The stages of periodontal disease include:
- Gingivitis: Red, swollen gums that bleed when brushing or flossing.
- Periodontitis: Receding gums, bad breath, and bone loss.
- Advanced periodontitis: Severe gum and bone damage leading to loose teeth or tooth loss.
Recognizing the early signs of gum disease is key to preventing its progression.
Diagnosing Periodontal Disease
We use periodontal probing to measure the depth of gum pockets. Healthy gums have shallow pockets, while deeper pockets indicate gum disease. This simple, noninvasive procedure helps determine the severity of the condition and the appropriate treatment plan.
Preventing Periodontal Disease
Preventing gum disease involves good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Some preventive measures include:
- Brushing twice daily with a soft toothbrush.
- Flossing daily to remove plaque between teeth.
- Scheduling regular cleanings to remove plaque and tartar.
- Maintaining a healthy diet to support overall oral health.
Routine dental care helps detect gum disease early and keeps your gums healthy.
What Is Gum Recession?
Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, exposing the roots. This can cause sensitivity, make teeth more vulnerable to decay, and affect the appearance of your smile. Gum recession can be caused by:
- Aggressive brushing
- Genetics
- Tobacco use
Early treatment can prevent further damage and protect your teeth.
Our Periodontic Services
We offer a range of services to treat gum disease and restore your gum health. Here’s a breakdown of our periodontic treatments:
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure used to treat gum disease. It involves:
- Scaling: Removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria from below the gum line.
- Root planing: Smoothing root surfaces to help the gums reattach and heal.
This treatment is often the first step in managing gum disease and may prevent the need for more invasive treatments.
Understanding the difference between routine and deep cleanings is essential for gum health:
- Routine cleanings: Remove plaque and tartar above the gum line to maintain oral health.
- Deep cleanings: Address more severe gum disease by targeting bacteria and buildup below the gum line.
Patients with gum disease usually need deep cleanings to stop the condition’s progression and restore gum health.
Antibiotics can help control bacterial infections associated with gum disease. There are two common types of antibiotics used in periodontal care:
- Topical antibiotics: Applied directly to gum pockets to fight infection.
- Oral antibiotics: Taken to treat widespread infections.
These medications can speed up recovery and prevent the spread of bacteria.
When gum disease causes deep pockets to form around your teeth, pocket reduction surgery may be required. Using laser technology, we remove diseased tissue and reduce pocket depth. Benefits include:
- Faster healing: Laser surgery reduces discomfort and speeds up recovery, as the tool sterilizes and cauterizes the tissue.
- Smaller gum pockets: Reduced pocket depth makes it easier to maintain hygiene and prevent future infections.
Gum Grafting
Gum grafting restores gum tissue lost due to gum recession. By covering exposed roots with healthy gum tissue, we protect your teeth and improve your smile. Benefits of gum grafting include:
- Protecting exposed roots: Reducing sensitivity and preventing decay.
- Restoring aesthetic appearance: Creating a natural-looking gum line.
This procedure is ideal for patients with advanced gum recession due to periodontal disease, aggressive brushing, or genetics.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting regenerates lost bone tissue in patients with severe periodontal disease. This procedure involves placing graft material in areas where the bone has deteriorated. Benefits of bone grafting include:
- Rebuilding jawbone support: Essential for dental implants or maintaining tooth stability.
- Preventing further bone loss: Supporting long-term oral health.
Bone grafting is often required for patients seeking dental implants after their gum disease is treated.
Gum Contouring & Reshaping
We use laser technology to contour and reshape the gumline. This procedure is ideal for patients with excess gum tissue or an uneven gum line. The laser precisely removes excess tissue, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Benefits of gum contouring include:
- Improved appearance: Creates a more symmetrical and attractive smile.
- Better oral health: Reduces the risk of periodontal disease by eliminating areas where bacteria can hide.
Laser technology ensures precision, minimizes discomfort, and promotes faster healing.
Elevate Your Gum Health & Reclaim Your Smile
Your gum health is essential to a confident, radiant smile, and our advanced periodontal care in Heights, TX, helps you achieve just that. With expert treatments and personalized care, we make it easy to restore, protect, and enhance your gum health. Take the next step toward healthier gums and a brighter smile by contacting us today to schedule your consultation!