Gum Disease Treatment - Gorham, ME
Stop Gum Disease
& Smile Brighter
Periodontal (gum)disease is the breakdown and deterioration of the gums and the bones that support the teeth. The bacteria in plaque is the culprit for this breakdown and deterioration. Untreated, the gums and teeth start separating and cause pockets to develop in the space. The root surface and the underlying bone is then affected, which leads to the bone deteriorating. Teeth can be lost because of this untreated condition. If this sounds familiar, Morgan-Hill Dental Care can help.
Why Choose Morgan-Hill Dental Care for Periodontal Therapy?
- State-of-the-Art Soft Tissue Therapy
- Comprehensive Deep Cleanings With Talented Hygiene Team
- Sedation Dentistry Available
Signs of Gum Disease
When you visit Morgan-Hill Dental Care for your regular exam, we will check for any signs of periodontal disease that may be developing. If you think you may have this or may be developing it, please call our office and allow us to examine your gums. Together we can create a treatment plan to save your teeth if possible.
- If you have loose permanent teeth or if you have lost any permanent teeth, this may be the reason. Space forming between any teeth and gums can be a sign as well as if there is any pus being released from between the teeth and gums.
- Teeth shifting from their original place is a possible sign.
- Bleeding, red, swollen or tender gums could also be a result of periodontal disease.
- The chronic bad breath you struggle with could be because of this condition.
Some factors can increase our chances of developing periodontal disease. Poor nutrition, stress, tobacco use, puberty, diabetes, and even clenching or grinding teeth can increase our chances of having to deal with this disease.
Gum Disease Treatment
If you have developed periodontal disease, it doesn’t mean that you have to lose the tooth or teeth involved. The sooner it is spotted and treated, the better. Professional dental cleanings are necessary for removing the plaque that has developed in calculus. This is the first line of defense once the disease has started. Surgical treatment is used as a last resort when treating periodontal disease, but once it has been allowed to become well advanced, it may be the best option. You would be referred to a periodontist, which is a gum specialist, if the disease is too far advanced.
Some procedures that can be done in our office involve deep cleaning. Periodontal debridement is a procedure that uses an ultrasonic scaler that makes use of water and high-frequency waves to remove any heavily built up plaque and tartar. For any plaque and tartar that have started developing below the gum line, a different procedure can be done. This is called root planing and scaling. It cleans between the gums and teeth and reaches all the way to the roots. A local anesthetic would be used the numb the gums.
Please call our office today and schedule an exam so our staff at Morgan-Hill Dental Care can help you prevent the development of any form of gum disease.