Gum disease does not just happen to people who avoid the dentist, eat a lot of candy, or fail to brush and floss regularly. Periodontal problems can also affect even the most dedicated brushers who watch their sugar intake and practice good dental hygiene. Gum disease is even becoming increasingly common in younger people with cases spotted as early as the teenage years. At Modern Dentistry Associates, we are committed to helping patients in all stages of gum disease by halting the progression of decay and improving dental health with several effective treatment methods.
Bacteria can do quite a bit of damage to your teeth and gums if left alone. Food and drink particles left on your teeth can form bacteria within hours. If the bacteria are allowed to remain in one spot, they can lead to the development of plaque, which hardens and becomes tartar when left untreated. This tartar can ultimately cause your gums to become infected, signaling the beginning stage of gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Gum disease is a progressive condition, so cases that go undiagnosed have the potential to cause many problems to your dental health, including tooth loss.
Signs that you may have some type of gum disease include:
The goal of our periodontal treatment is to catch gum disease in the early stage of gingivitis before it develops into periodontitis. Treatment for gingivitis includes deep cleaning of the teeth and gums and removal of any tartar that has accumulated. Treatment for deep pockets of decay (periodontitis) includes antibiotic medication, scaling and root planning (a deep cleaning method), and possible gum surgery in severe cases.
Please contact our St. Joseph family dentist today to schedule your appointment at Modern Dentistry Associates, serving patients in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo, Michigan and Elkhart, Indiana.
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