Gum Disease Treatment Parsippany

What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Despite being preventable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 50% of adults in the U.S. have a form of gum disease, but most people aren’t aware they have it. At first, the signs can be subtle, or you may think they are caused by another factor, like overbrushing; however, over time, the symptoms can manifest into tooth loss as the infection progresses. It’s best to get treatment as soon as you notice any signs, such as:

• Red, swollen, or inflamed gum tissue
• Bleeding gums
• Receding gum line
• Tooth sensitivity
• Chronic bad breath
• Loosening of your teeth
  

What are the Stages of Gum Disease?

The early stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which occurs when the gums are red, swollen, or bleeding. At this point, the infection can be treated quickly using a deep cleaning. In most cases, there aren’t any long-term complications to your oral health, but you might require more regular cleanings and checkups.

If the infection isn’t treated, it will progress to periodontitis. Now, the infection is destroying the supporting structures of your teeth. As a result, your gum tissue may pull away from their surfaces. Your teeth may even loosen. You’ll need an aggressive treatment plan to restore a healthy smile. If the infection reaches advanced stages, you may experience tooth loss. You may also notice adverse health issues, like high blood pressure, reoccurring respiratory infections, or diabetic complications.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is often the result of poor oral hygiene habits, like not flossing your teeth daily. Although anyone can develop it, there are certain risk factors that increase your likeliness for it, such as genetics, smoking, or diabetes.

How is Gum Disease Treated?

Your dentist will perform a comprehensive consultation to determine the extent of the infection to create a customized plan. Often, the first course of treatment involves a dental deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing.

Scaling & Root Planing

During the scaling portion of the treatment, special dental instruments are used to remove plaque and tartar buildup below the gum line. Next, root planing is used to smooth the root surfaces of the teeth. This discourages future buildup while allowing the gum tissue to reattach to your teeth.

Chao Pinhole Technique

The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique was developed and patented by Dr. John Chao and has been highlighted in the International Journal of Periodontics. This is a non-invasive and incision and suture-free treatment that involves creating small holes in the gum tissue to guide the tissue over the receded portion of the gumline. This allows the gums to grow in such a way to protect the root structure of the teeth, preventing tooth loss from worsening gum disease.

Laser Periodontal Treatment

Our team can also use our soft tissue laser to help kill harmful oral bacteria during scaling and root planing as well as effortlessly remove severely damaged gum tissue. This allows only healthy tissue to be left behind, helping stop the worsening effects of gum disease as well as easing existing, uncomfortable symptoms.

Antibiotic Treatment

Typically, in combination with scaling and root planing, our team will also prescribe antibiotics. Depending on what the OralDNA test results reveal, our team will prescribe an effective antibiotic to help combat the infection and improve your gum disease symptoms.