If you have swollen and red gums, you might have gum disease. Stephen Charnitski, DMD, and his dental team at Suburban Dental in Allentown, Pennsylvania, are periodontics experts who can ease your pain, stop your infection, and prevent further damage. To make an appointment for treatment, call the practice today or use the online booking tool.
This branch of dentistry diagnoses, treats, and prevents gum disease. When you have plaque buildup on your teeth, it can turn into tartar, which ultimately destroys your gums and bone if not removed.
There are several types of gum disease, but the most common are:
Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease. It causes your gums to swell and become red when food debris, bacteria, and saliva collect beneath your gum line.
It can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, and seeing your provider at your regularly scheduled appointments every six months for a professional teeth cleaning.
This type of gum disease is more progressive, causing your gums to recede, forming pockets where bacteria like to grow. Without prompt treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, which can result in tooth loss.
Symptoms that periodontics can treat include:
The Suburban Dental team offers periodontics treatment that can restore your oral health.
Suburban Dental offers various ways to treat your periodontitis, including:
Scaling and planing involve deep cleaning your teeth using a scaling tool that removes plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth and underneath your gum line.
Your provider cleans all the way down to the root and then smooths the surfaces of your teeth in a process called planing. Root planing allows your gums to reattach and prevent further recession.
If you have receding gums, your provider removes healthy tissue from the roof of your mouth and transfers it to the targeted receding areas of your gums. The graft is stitched in place to augment tissue in those areas.
Significant gum infection may require antibiotic treatment in addition to scaling and root planing to keep harmful bacteria in check. Your dental team may also prescribe a medicated mouth rinse.
To learn more about periodontics, schedule an appointment at Suburban Dental. Call the friendly office staff today or book your visit online.
