Periodontal Disease Treatment Wayne PA

Are your gums sensitive or swollen? Do they bleed easily when you brush and floss your teeth and gums? These are the typical first signs of gingivitis, a common oral health issue we treat at Wayne Family Dentistry. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease, also called periodontal disease. While gingivitis is not too serious, it can develop into a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. The dental team at Wayne Family Dentistry offers comprehensive periodontal disease treatment in Wayne, PA for patients who suffer from any stage of gum disease.

Treating gum inflammation and gum disease is an important restorative dentistry service we offer to restore smiles. Although gum disease is a very common dental problem, it can be highly damaging. If patients do not address their gum infection, they can experience gum recession and even permanent tooth loss.

Our professional dental team collaborates with patients to target their specific symptoms with the right dental solutions. Taking a comprehensive approach to treating gum infections helps prevent damage to the smile.

Periodontal Disease in Wayne, Pennsylvania

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

The primary cause of gum disease is an accumulation of plaque of tartar on the teeth, especially along the gum line. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth. When you fail to remove it with regular teeth brushing, plaque will harden into tartar. Tartar is very hard to remove from teeth.

The bacteria in plaque and tartar leads to irritated gums and patients begin experiencing the first symptoms of gum disease. While plaque and tartar lead to gum disease, several risk factors can contribute to the development and progression of periodontal disease, including:

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Smoking or tobacco use
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes
  • Certain medications that reduce saliva flow
  • Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy
  • Poor nutrition and obesity

Stages of Gum Disease

There are three stages of gum disease. Each stage will progress into the next without proper gum disease treatment. In most cases, our patients do not even know they have gingivitis. This is why regular dental appointments are vital to your oral health. A good majority of our patients do not know they have gum disease until the later stages. This is when the damage to the gums affects the teeth, bone, and gum tissues.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. In most cases, it is easy for your dentist to treat. Your dentist can diagnose your gingivitis if you attend your regular dental appointment. They can treat it and most patients recover from gingivitis very well.

Most people will only need a deep cleaning to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from their teeth and gums. We may suggest using an antibacterial toothpaste or mouthwash as well.

Mild/Moderate Periodontitis

When gingivitis is left untreated, it will progress into a worse form of gum disease called periodontitis. At this stage, the damage extends to the periodontium, the supporting structures of the teeth that include the tooth roots, bone, and gum tissues.

This is a serious stage of periodontal disease and requires treatment. Your dentist will need to eliminate all signs of bacteria to stop the progression of the disease to avoid any more damage. We offer several treatments to help stop the progression of mild to moderate periodontitis.

Advanced Periodontitis

Left untreated, periodontitis will lead to advanced periodontitis. At this stage, irreversible damage to your teeth, bone, and gums has likely taken place. Patients with advanced periodontitis experience bone loss in the jaw bone severely receded gums, and tooth loss.

Treatment will likely require surgery such as pocket reduction surgery, soft tissue grafting, pocket reduction surgery, bone grafting, and guided tissue regeneration.

Signs of Gum Inflammation and Infection

Common symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis are:

  • Red or purple-tinged gums
  • Swollen and irritated gums
  • Bleeding when brushing and flossing
  • Chronic bad breath (Halitosis)
  • Pockets between the teeth and gums

Please let our dental office know if you have noticed any of these symptoms. We will work with you to find the areas of your smile that require treatment.

Periodontal Disease Treatment in Wayne, PA

We offer deep cleanings and antibiotics to help remove bacteria buildup from the gums. Scaling and root planning are treatments that are used in tandem to remove plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that collects on the gums. When it hardens, it becomes tartar, which is often more difficult to remove.

Scaling and Root Planing

This non-surgical gum disease treatment is an intense dental cleaning. It removes accumulated deposits of plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the deep gum pockets where it forms. Your dentist will use special tools to gently scrap away all signs of the disease. Then your dentist will smooth out the surface of the teeth roots to prevent further bacterial infections. Scaling an root planing will remove the bacteria from the below the gum line to prevent gum recession and tooth loss.

Antibiotic Therapy

Along with scaling and root planing, we will also often recommend antibiotic therapy to help control the bacterial infections. During this treatment, we apply a topical antibiotic to the gums. Over several days, the antibiotic slowly dissolves into the gums.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

The best thing you can do to prevent gum disease is to practice good oral hygiene habits. This includes visiting your dentist regularly. Every six months, we will clean your teeth and examine your entire mouth for signs of this disease. If we catch it in the early stages, treatment is easier and less painful. Our dental hygienists use special dental tools to clean the teeth and gums as well as prevent bacteria buildup. Schedule your dental appointments every six months for the best clean.

You will also need to take good care of your oral health at home. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque. Additionally, you need to floss at least once a day and avoid high-sugar food, candy, and drinks.


Reverse Symptoms of Gum Disease Today

Have you recently noticed changes in your gums? Call Wayne Family Dentistry at 610-347-5133. You can also request a dental appointment with our team on our website. If you have any further questions or concerns, let us know and we can help!