Periodontal Disease
Do your gums bleed when you brush? Are they swollen
and tender? These are symptoms of periodontal
disease, a serious dental problem that can lead to
the loss of bone in your jaw and ultimately to the
loss of your teeth. Periodontal disease has also
been linked to systemic problems such as heart disease
and diabetes.
If you suspect you may have periodontal disease, please
call our office right away for an appointment. The
earlier we can diagnose and treat periodontal disease,
the less damage done to your teeth and bones.
Charting and Diagnostic Services
We’ll examine the gum around each tooth carefully,
looking for the puffiness or bleeding that indicates
periodontal disease. We’ll measure the spaces
between your teeth and gums—the pockets—to
see if they are deeper than they should be. (This
is another symptom of periodontal disease). We may
also take x-rays to check for any signs of bone loss
due to periodontal problems.
In Office Therapy
We can treat most cases of periodontal disease using
deep-cleaning techniques to remove the plaque. This
is called scaling and root planing. We also use
a special mouth rinse—and sometimes longer-term
antibiotic therapy--to kill the germs that cause periodontal
disease.
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