Periodontal Care in Auburn Hills, MI
Good oral hygiene increases the likelihood of maintaining healthy teeth. It includes caring not only for the teeth themselves but also for the gums and bones that support the teeth. Gum disease is the most common cause of adult tooth loss. Therefore, you may need periodontal care when indicators of the disease emerge.
Continue reading to discover all you need to know about periodontal care in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
First Impressions are Lasting Impressions
What is periodontal care?
Periodontal care involves surgical and non-surgical procedures that manage and control periodontal diseases destroying tissues (gums and bone) that support the teeth.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum and bone-supporting teeth. In its early stages, known as gingivitis, the gums might become swollen, red, and bleed. Periodontitis, its more severe variant, can cause bone loss, gum tissue separation from the tooth, and eventual tooth loss. According to the National Library of Medicine, periodontal disease can cause health problems like a heart attack or stroke without treatment.
What can cause periodontal disease?
We have lots of microorganisms in our mouths. These bacteria continuously generate a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth along with mucus and food particles. Unremoved plaque can harden into “tartar,” which brushing cannot remove. Oral germs that collect along your gum line irritate the tissues, resulting in gum disease.
Other risk factors for gum disease include smoking, diabetes, hormonal changes in girls and women, drugs that reduce saliva production, specific conditions, such as AIDS, and genetic predisposition.
Signs and symptoms
Gum disease signs and symptoms include:
- Persistent bad breath
- Red or swollen gums.
- Bleeding or painful gums.
- Painful chewing
- Tooth decay
- Receding gums or teeth that seem longer
What does the periodontal treatment include?
The kind and severity of the illness determine the periodontal treatment strategy.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Include less invasive procedures such as:
- Scaling and root planning: This deep cleaning procedure removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from beneath the gum tissues with hand scalers and ultrasonic devices.
- Antibiotics: After deep cleaning, topical antibiotics are placed between your teeth and gums or into pockets to eliminate infection-causing bacteria.
Surgical Treatment
If your periodontitis is advanced, Treatment may include specific dental procedures, such as:
- Gum grafting: Involves either using donor tissue treated in a lab or transplanting healthy gum tissue from one area of the mouth to another.
- Bone grafting: Reverse or improve bone loss by using bone from other body parts or synthetic material.
- Periodontal Splinting: Use wire or ribbon, composite resin, crowns, inlays/Onlays, and veneers to support teeth that have become loose due to bone loss.
- Crown lengthening: Remove bone or gum tissue to reveal more of the tooth’s anatomy.
- Flap Surgery (Pocket Depth Reduction): A shallow pocket is created by reshaping and smoothing the afflicted bone beneath the gum tissue, making it more difficult for bacteria to survive.
- Regeneration of Bone: Using membranes, bone transplants, or tissue-stimulating proteins to stimulate the body’s natural ability to rebuild bone and tissue.
- Ridge preserving: A regenerative bone grafting material is inserted into vacant tooth sockets to restore bone after extraction has left an empty, weakened area.
Services Offered at Pristine Dental Care for Periodontal Care
Our dentist will review your medical history during your periodontal appointment. As a preventive measure, they will also perform a physical and visual check of your mouth and neck to screen for oral cancer. As the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration advised, the dentist will conduct an X-Ray to assist in identifying potential oral health issues that are not immediately apparent.
The dentist will conduct periodontal probing and inspect your teeth to help them make a diagnosis and treatment plan. They can provide advice on how to take care of your mouth better and show you how to perform proper oral hygiene procedures.
Get Periodontal Care in Auburn Hills, MI Today
Regular dental exams discover early indicators of gum disease before they become apparent to you. Contact Pristine Dental Care in Auburn Hills, Michigan, today to speak with a professional, or to book an appointment.
