When you develop periodontal disease, you initially experience sore, red gums. There could possibly be bleeding too. But what happens if the issue remains untreated? In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about the dangers of untreated periodontal disease and how we can offer treatment.
The Risks of Untreated Periodontal Disease
When we develop periodontal disease, the issue will continue to grow in severity with time. This could lead to worsening discomfort and bleeding. There could also be swelling or even recession that makes your teeth appear long and uneven. Eventually, you could reach the periodontitis stage. At this stage, the connective tissues between your teeth and gums will be severed. When this happens, your teeth could become loose or even fall out. In fact, this is the number one cause of adult tooth loss. When you experience common symptoms like the ones we discussed in this section, then please see our team right away for a diagnosis!
Our Diagnosis
To conduct a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, our team will first look closely at the gums with digital x-rays and CT imaging technology. We want to look for any damage to underlying connective tissues and bone, and also watch for the common warning signs in the gingival tissues. We can then assess the cause and extent of your periodontal symptoms, so we can plan treatment to manage the issue and prevent the onset of periodontitis, so you avoid the risk of tooth loss!
Treatment Options
If we catch this in the early stages, we could offer a deep cleaning, known as a scaling and root planing. The procedure allows our team to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and the exposed roots, and to destroy pockets of bacteria beneath the gum line too. This could take up to four visits, and helps manage the issue so we can control it with traditional cleanings or other holistic treatments moving forward.
If you have a more advanced case of the disease, then our team could offer laser dentistry. With dental lasers, our team will use advanced technology to trim away the diseased portions of the gums, which allows us to manage more severe cases with holistic and preventive treatments. Lasers are precise and comfortable, and allow the area to heal quickly.
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like periodontal disease, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule Your Visit to Manage Your Oral Health
With laser dentistry and holistic treatments, our team can help manage your gum health! To learn more about safeguarding your smile against tooth loss, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.