Gum Disease Treatment – Wayland, MA
Helping You Protect Your Gum Health
Gum disease is an extremely common oral health issue; it’s estimated that over 80% of adults have it in some form or another. It’s an issue that you need to take very seriously, as it can ultimately result in tooth loss and have a detrimental effect on your overall health. At Wayland Dental, we can offer multiple ways to treat gum disease, thanks in no small part to our in-house periodontist, Dr. Braga. If you believe you may have gum disease, give us a call today.
Why Choose Wayland Dental for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Gentle Scaling and Root Planing
- Arestin Antibiotic Therapy Available
- Trustworthy, Knowledgeable Periodontist
What is Gum Disease?
Simply put, gum disease is an infection that targets the vital gum tissue and bone that supports your teeth. It begins with plaque (a sticky, bacteria-filled substance that’s constantly forming in the mouth), which hardens into tartar that sneaks below the gumline, irritating the tissue and causing infection to set in. The symptoms at this stage are relatively mild, such as minor oral bleeding or gums that are red and swollen. If left untreated, though, gum disease can quickly develop into something much more dangerous, leading all the way up to the loss of your permanent teeth.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
You may have gum disease if:
- Your gums are unusually red or swollen.
- You keep finding blood on your toothbrush or your dental floss.
- Your teeth appear to be longer than they used to be.
- Your bite seems to have changed.
- You have loose permanent teeth.
Of course, the signs of gum disease aren’t always obvious, especially if the condition is still in its early stages. Luckily, we can check your gums for concerning symptoms during a routine dental checkup; if we find any problems, we can help you determine the best course of action to take.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
There are several forms of gum disease treatment available. In order to determine the one that’s right for you, we will need to examine your mouth carefully and learn more about your situation. Depending on how advanced your gum disease is, we may recommend the following options:
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing both make up a process known as deep cleaning. Scaling involves reducing the presence of the bacteria that cause gum disease by removing plaque and tartar from the areas around and below the gumline. Root planing, meanwhile, involves smoothing out the tooth roots to aid with the reattachment of the gums.
Antibiotic Treatment
Antibiotic treatment often goes hand in hand with scaling and root planing. Our practice uses Arestin, which can be applied directly to the pockets between your teeth and gums; that way, the medication can fight the bacteria contributing to your gum disease right at the source.
Chao Pinhole Technique
If gum disease has caused your gum tissue to recede, we may suggest a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as the Chao Pinhole Technique. This involves making a very small hole in the gums, thus allowing us to loosen the tissue and reposition it so that it covers the parts of the teeth that have been exposed.