Gum Disease Treatment – Fayetteville, GA
Stop Permanent
Damage to Your Smile and Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems in the nation and is said to impact one out of every two adults. At Sparking Smiles Fayetteville, our goal is to stop the progression of this disease in its tracks and preserve your smile. We offer several different advanced gum disease therapy options to do just that. If you’ve noticed that your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth or your teeth are beginning to look longer, please contact our dental office for an examination and gum disease treatment in Fayetteville, GA.
Why Choose Sparkling Smiles Fayetteville for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Cutting-Edge Technology and Techniques
- Dentistry with a Focus on Overall Health and Education
- Intraoral Cameras for Precise Diagnosis
What is Gum Disease?
Gum or periodontal disease is an inflammatory infection of the gum tissue. Harmful bacteria in plaque and calculus irritates the gum tissue and degrades the connection between gums and teeth. Eventually, the infection progresses into periodontitis and spreads to erode the jawbone.
Numerous studies show that people with gum disease tend to suffer from much higher rates of cardiovascular problems compared to the general population. It’s believed that the bacteria responsible for gum disease actually has the ability to enter the bloodstream, travel to the heart, and cause inflammation that can drastically increase someone’s risk of heart attack and stroke.
So, by attending regular checkups and getting treatment at the earliest indications of gum disease, you can protect both your smile and your body from much bigger issues in the future!
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Early signs of gum disease can be easy to ignore. When plaque is allowed to remain on the teeth, red, puffy, and bleeding gums are among the primary symptoms of gingivitis, the first stage of the disease. As it advances, the gums pull away from the teeth and create pockets of trapped bacteria. When the inflammation hits the jawbone, it loses density, and the support it gives to teeth becomes less stable. If you have teeth that feel loose, it could mean that you have later stages of gum disease.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
To help you overcome this persistent infection, we have several treatments at our disposal, which can be customized to your situation. We may use a combination of treatments based on your needs and how far the infection has progressed.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a two-step process that is great for patients who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of gum disease. During the first part, we’ll clear all plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, as far down as the pockets of your gums. Then, we’ll remove any hardened tartar and bacteria deposits from the roots of your teeth to smooth them out. This will allow your gum tissue to healthily reattach and provide this vulnerable area with protection.
Perio Protect
For our patients who are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease, commonly called periodontitis, we also offer a revolutionary, non-invasive treatment called Perio Protect. This treatment utilizes custom trays with a prescribed medication that effectively treats gum disease. The trays are specifically designed to allow this medication to target infection deep below the gum line. This non-invasive treatment reduces the need for surgical intervention and allows you to continuously treat gum disease from the comfort of your own home.
Antibiotic Treatment
In addition to LANAP or scaling and root planing, we may also suggest antibiotic therapy. This is a simple treatment that aids your body in fighting off harmful oral bacteria that have overrun your mouth. We use Arestin antibiotics, which are small microspheres that we’ll place in the pockets of your gums, where the infection is located, to target the area. Over the course of weeks, these will dissolve on their own, so there’s no need to worry about taking pills or having to remember to rinse your mouth with an antibiotic mouthwash.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
Gum disease is a chronic infection, meaning it may take several procedures and treatment cycles to get it under control. In addition, it may return without proper care. One of the ways to prevent reinfection is to remove gum tissue that was permanently affected. In the past, infected gums beyond saving were surgically cut out. But, thanks to our soft tissue laser, we can remove this tissue without a scalpel and sutures. The soft tissue laser precisely severs and cauterizes tissue with little to no pain or bleeding, helping you recover more quickly and efficiently.
