If you have periodontal disease, the best thing you can do for your oral health is invest in periodontal treatment in Whittier. The sooner your Whittier dentist can treat your disease the better. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent tooth loss and, in some cases, even reverse the disease.
Periodontal disease – also called gum disease – is the result of an infection of the gum tissue and the surrounding bone.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria and the acids they produce, both of which are found in abundance in plaque and tartar (calcified plaque, also called calculus). The bacteria irritate the gum tissue and can even cause infections.
Left untreated, gum disease can progress to the point of causing:
Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
In addition to the oral health implications, leaving gum disease untreated can wreak havoc on your general health as well. Periodontal disease has been linked to:
A preventative dental cleaning occurs every six months. The goal of this cleaning is to remove any plaque and tartar build-up that you’re unable to during your daily hygiene routine so we can prevent gum disease.
Once you have gum disease, though, you end up with deeper gum pockets. A traditional cleaning is not suitable for someone who already has gum disease. We need to get to the base of those deeper pockets and to do that, we need to numb the tissue and use special instruments.
Depending on the severity of your gum disease, we can perform one or more of the following periodontal treatments in Whittier.
Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)
During a deep cleaning, we will numb the gum tissue in one to two quadrants at a time. Once you’re numb, we’ll use specialized instruments to reach the bottom of the gum pockets (deep pockets are 4+ millimeters deep; some can get as deep as 21 millimeters). After removing all the plaque and tartar, we’ll smooth the root surfaces to make it harder for plaque to adhere to the teeth.
Antibiotic Treatment
If you have a gum infection, we can place an injectable antibiotic in the gum pockets after a deep cleaning to help clear the infection.
Gum Grafting
When your gums recede, it exposes the roots of your teeth, which can lead to sensitivity and increase your risk of dental decay.
During a gum graft, a surgeon takes gum tissue from the roof of your mouth and grafts it to the gum tissue that has receded. When the graft has healed, you’ll have little-to-no root exposure and shallower gum pockets.
Bone Regeneration
This is a surgical procedure that utilizes barrier membranes to stimulate the growth of new bone, as well as gum tissue, in areas where you’ve experienced bone and gum recession.
The cost of gum treatment in Whittier depends on the type of treatment you need, as well as the materials involved and whether you’ll need local or general anesthesia.
Our team can help you get an idea of how much you’ll need to pay out of pocket for your treatment when you visit. We offer payment plans and outside financing, too.
Periodontal treatments in Whittier aren’t a cure-all. They’re a starting point. Once you’ve had your treatment, it’s now time to maintain your oral health.
We help you do this with regular periodontal maintenance cleanings. You’ll come in every three to four months for a cleaning with our hygienist. We’ll evaluate the health of your gums and the depth of your gum pockets, in addition to cleaning your teeth.
More frequent cleanings help ensure we arrest the disease. It also helps us to catch any issues that may arise so we can quickly and easily treat them as soon as possible. All of which helps us prevent tooth loss so you can keep your teeth for a lifetime.
A Lifetime of Good Oral Health Can Be Yours!
Contact us to learn more about the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.
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