(217) 546-3333Gum Disease – Springfield, IL
Protecting Your Mouth From Permanent Damage
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the most common and damaging dental problems in the entire world. Early symptoms include red, swollen, and tender gums that bleed often, but it can eventually develop into the leading cause of tooth loss! We’ll screen your gums whenever you come to see us here at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, and should we spot a problem, our dentist in Springfield will immediately be able to take care of it with periodontal therapy. With the treatments outlined below, we can make sure this global issue never causes your smile any trouble.
What is Gum Disease?
Harmful oral bacteria accumulate in your mouth and feed on sugar and carbohydrates found in plaque. After eating, they produce waste such as enamel-eroding acid and toxins that infect your oral tissues causing irritation, swelling, and a variety of additional problems. As the plaque hardens into tartar, which can’t be removed with a regular toothbrush, these toxins linger, severing the connection between your gums and teeth and causing pockets of bacteria to form.
When this condition is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your mouth, that’s why our team is dedicated to diagnosing and reversing it early, so you can enjoy your natural smile for years to come.
What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
There are two primary stages of gum disease called gingivitis and periodontitis. The earliest stage is gingivitis, which can cause symptoms such as:
- Inflamed, swollen, and red gums.
- Bleeding gums in Springfield.
- Chronic bad breath.
If the disease is left untreated and progresses into periodontitis, the symptoms become more severe and can leave a trail of permanent damage. Some signs of the advanced stage of gum disease include:
- Gum recession.
- Pockets of pus between teeth.
- Pain while chewing.
- Loose and shifting teeth.
- Tooth loss.
If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. We’ll examine your teeth and gums and establish what the best treatment method for your condition is.
Why is it Important to Treat Gum Disease Early?
Without timely treatment, gum disease can cause permanent damage which requires you to receive additional dental treatment, such as restorations for tooth loss, added protection, and strength. Symptoms of gingivitis are often less severe and can be reversed with proper brushing, flossing, and a deep cleaning. When it’s left to progress, the effects become more severe and permanent, and the disease itself becomes incurable. You’ll only be able to gain temporary relief from your periodontitis symptoms and stop it from getting any worse.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Depending on your unique needs, at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, we thoroughly examine our patients’ gums and teeth so we can provide you with the best gum disease therapy in Springfield. We offer multiple procedures, which we’ve listed below.
Scaling & Root Planing
When you’re in need of gum disease treatment in Springfield, our team will often recommend a deep cleaning to prevent your gum disease from growing worse. A deep cleaning procedure consists of scaling and root planing. These two simple steps can help get rid of any plaque and tartar that have built up around and below your gumline; this reduces the inflammation that you’re experiencing while also giving your gums a chance to heal.
Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?
This is a question that can only be answered with the help of a dentist. We can examine your mouth to determine how advanced your gum disease is and narrow down what type of treatment would be appropriate in your situation.
Scaling and root planing may be necessary if:
- You have gum recession, meaning your gums are pulling away from your teeth.
- Your gums bleed easily.
- You are having trouble chewing your food.
- Some of your teeth have started to shift.
- You have chronic bad breath.
- There is a constant bad taste in your mouth.
Bear in mind that if your gum disease is still in its earliest stages, it may be possible to address the problem simply by practicing good oral hygiene. But if your gum disease has already progressed, there’s a good chance that scaling and root planing will be needed.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing both have specific purposes when it comes to fighting gum disease. Scaling is where the dentist uses specialized instruments to remove plaque and tartar from all surfaces of the teeth. This step is particularly important for removing plaque that has developed underneath gum tissue, an area that no amount of brushing or flossing can effectively reach. During the scaling process, our team will make a point of cleaning down to the bottom of any pockets that have appeared in your gums.
Root planing is the step where we smooth out the tooth roots, which makes it more difficult for gum tissue to become infected again later. It also helps the gums reattach to the teeth, thus reducing the depth of your periodontal pockets.
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
It might take a few weeks for your mouth to fully recover after scaling and root planing. Our team will give you instructions for taking care of your mouth during this time. Here are a few important steps you should follow to ensure the healing process goes smoothly:
- Whenever you finish eating, rinse your mouth with salt water. This will help make your gums less tender.
- Be very gentle when brushing your teeth. Remember to use a soft-bristled toothbrush; hard bristles could irritate your gums and even lead to bleeding.
- Since your gums will be somewhat sensitive while they’re healing, you will want to make a point of avoiding certain kinds of foods and beverages. Generally speaking, you should stay away from anything that’s hot or spicy. Additionally, you should refrain from drinking anything that’s alcoholic or acidic.
Laser Gum Disease Treatment
Although it may be possible to reverse gum disease in its early stages, if it has become too advanced you may require a more comprehensive intervention. Laser gum disease treatment uses a precise soft-tissue laser to vaporize damaged periodontal tissue and eliminate infection at the source. This method is more comfortable and usually does not require sutures or stitches. To learn more about laser gum disease treatment or to schedule a consultation, contact us today to get started!
How Laser Gum Disease Treatment Works
Laser gum disease treatment is frequently performed as part of a multi-step process to remove gum tissue in various stages of periodontal disease.
Traditionally, periodontal surgery required a dentist to remove damaged tissue with a scalpel and then close the gums with sutures or stitches. However, today’s soft tissue lasers allow your dentist to be more precise and remove less healthy tissue in the process. Furthermore, because it cauterizes as it works, the laser eliminates the need for stitches in most cases.
The laser also kills bacteria around the teeth, helping your body fight infection for proper healing. In fact, it even lowers your risk of developing a secondary infection while recovering.
During your procedure, your dentist will remove the diseased tissue, leaving behind only healthy tissue and allowing your gums to successfully reattach to your tooth roots.
You may also need a scaling and root planing procedure to remove deposits of hardened plaque and tartar and plane the roots of the teeth so your healthy gum tissue can reattach.
The Benefits of Laser Gum Disease Treatment
The soft tissue laser is far less invasive than traditional surgery, and much more comfortable both during the procedure and in the recovery period.
The tiny point of light emitted by the device is more precise than a scalpel, allowing your dentist to leave more of your healthy tissue intact, and because it’s more efficient at removing damaged tissues, it reduces the risk of future infections.
Aftercare Tips for Laser Gum Disease Treatment
Following laser gum disease treatment, most patients can expect a relatively brief recovery period of about a week, as opposed to two four weeks with traditional surgery!
You may experience some slight swelling or sensitivity following your procedure, but this is normal and can usually be alleviated with over-the-counter pain reliever.
Be sure to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine following your treatment, including brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily.
Avoid any hot, cold, and spicy foods in the first week or so after treatment, as you may be prone to sensitivity during this time.
Finally, be sure to attend any follow-up appointments with your dentist, and if you notice anything abnormal or if your pain worsens instead of improving, contact us right away.