Periodontics

Protecting Your Gums for a Healthier Smile

Did you know that more than 75% of Americans suffer from periodontal disease? Even more concerning is that many people are unaware they have it. Gum disease is a progressive condition that can lead to bleeding gums, bad breath, gum recession, tooth loss, and even serious health risks like heart disease and stroke. At Bay Area Dental, we provide comprehensive periodontal care to halt the progression of gum disease and restore your oral health.

Understanding Gum Disease

Restore Gum Health with Expert Periodontal Therapy

Periodontal (gum) disease is the result of too much bacteria building up on your teeth and gums. When the bacteria start to collect in your mouth, they can create a sticky, colorless substance known as “plaque.” Plaque builds up and sticks to your teeth. If it is not removed during brushing or flossing, the particle can harden and turn into calculus. Over time, plaque and calculus become more difficult to remove at home, so a professional hygiene visit with our dentist is important for maintaining your oral health and preventing decay and periodontal disease.

The longer the plaque and calculus remain on the teeth, the more harm they can cause to your oral health. Eventually, they will create a mild form of gum disease called gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gum tissue. Ideally, routine hygiene visits and proper oral care can prevent gingivitis from developing. Once gum disease is prevalent, Dr. Theresa Kujala can help maintain the disease and prevent it from progressing. In cases where gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontal disease. Inflammation affects the soft tissue (gums) and teeth, creating pockets between them. If left untreated, the pockets become deep and can cause teeth to become loose or even fall out.

Deep Cleanings and Advanced Care

A common solution for controlling periodontal disease is scaling and root planning. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of the disease may make it necessary to numb the area for comfort. Scaling is the removal of the dental calculus from the tooth surfaces, and root planing is the smoothing of the root surfaces.

We also offer Arestin as an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form, which is placed inside the infected periodontal pockets to eliminate infection of the gums. Periodontitis can often not be completely reversed, but with proper at-home care combined with in-office maintenance, we can help prevent the disease from progressing. It is important to regularly see us for routine, professional hygiene visits and examinations. Also, it is essential to keep up with your daily oral routine at home. Flossing is crucial to preventing periodontal disease.

Catching and Treating Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a disease that can cause significant tooth and gum deterioration. A buildup of plaque and tartar allows bacteria to grow on the surfaces of the teeth. The bacteria will cause your gums to become inflamed and bleed. If left untreated, the condition will progress and worsen.

Treatment for gingivitis is simple and performed right at your dental office. Scaling and planing is performed without any anesthesia. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area for comfort. Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth surfaces, and root planing is smoothening the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure.