Gum disease & treatment

Gum disease is one of the most common oral conditions and it can take a severe toll on your oral health. It is characterized by gum bleeding and recession in the beginning and can progress to soft tissue infection and even tooth loss. As gum disease can progress rapidly and, sometimes, without any warning signs, we always recommend our patients visit the dentist regularly to check for signs of gum disease and address the condition immediately if it is present.

What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Gum Disease?

The leading cause of gum disease is plaque and tartar accumulation on the teeth and tooth roots. The bacteria in plaque and tartar release harmful acidic substances that deteriorate the soft gum tissues, which gradually worsen gum disease. Some of the other causes are root canal infections, external injuries to the gums, etc.

Gum disease can be characterized by the following symptoms:

• Bleeding and discharge of pus from the gums
• Severe pain, especially when biting and chewing food, brushing the teeth, etc.
• Gum redness and inflammation
• Receding gum line exposing the tooth roots
• Jawbone deterioration
• Loss of teeth

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

Periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease, can significantly affect your oral health if left untreated for a long time and cause irreversible damage to the oral tissues. At SmileHere Family Dental, we thoroughly examine your oral cavity during regular checkups to identify signs, diagnose this oral condition, and recommend suitable treatment. Since tartar deposits are the leading cause of gum disease, the first line of treatment is removing these deposits using manual or ultrasonic scalers and washing away the microbial debris using a powerful jet of water. The tooth roots will also be cleaned by the dentist using a hook-like scaling tip.

If the condition is advanced, the diseased gum tissues will be removed using laser therapy, where the dentist uses a highly intense laser beam to vaporize the tissues. The wound underneath is sealed instantly, thus avoiding the need for sutures or a long healing period. If the gum line has receded severely, healthy tissues will be harvested from a different part of the mouth (preferably the palate) and grafted to the receded area, thus replenishing their volume. We will also use suitable medication to arrest the infection and prevent its spread.

To schedule a consultation with our dental experts, call any of our offices in Livonia at (734) 425-7888, Ann Arbor at (734) 888-8886, or book an appointment online.