When You Need Periodontal Treatment

Our team provides periodontic treatment, which enables our team to treat and manage gum disease to help patients avoid uncomfortable symptoms and even a higher risk of tooth loss. But when do you need periodontal treatment? In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about the need for periodontal treatment.

The Causes of Periodontal Disease

What causes an issue like periodontal disease to form in the first place? This can develop in the smiles of adults, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, half of those over the age of 30 have some stage of gum disease. The trouble starts when the gums become inflamed, developing gingivitis. This could be due to plaque and tartar buildup, itself brought on by poor brushing and flossing habits and a diet high in sugar. Inflammatory illnesses could be responsible, as could the use of certain medications or even a family history of the disease. Tobacco use could also be a factor. As part of your treatment, we will assess the underlying factors behind the onset of your disease.

Common Symptoms and Health Risks

What symptoms should you be aware of? We want you to reach out to our team when you begin to experience common symptoms, such as soreness in your gums or the tissues appearing redder than usual. There could also be bleeding when you brush or floss, or possibly swelling in your gums. If the tissues begin to recede, which makes teeth appear longer, this could also be a warning sign.

Without treatment, the disease could cause discomfort and eventually reach a stage known as periodontitis. At this point, without treatment the disease could sever the tissues connecting your teeth and gums to cause adult tooth loss. This is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults, in fact.

Our Approach to Periodontal Treatment

When you see our team, we will start by examining your smile carefully with advanced digital imaging technology, such as digital x-rays and CT imaging. With these systems, we can assess the cause and severity of the issue, and choose the right treatment option. For many, we can offer relief with dental lasers, removing diseased tissues and reshaping the gums. Lasers can also aid in gum grafting or even jawbone grafting, so we can correct receding tissues and even prepare your smile for dental implants if you have lost a tooth.

If you have any questions about how we treat periodontal disease with dental lasers, then contact our team today to learn more.

Schedule Your Appointment for Gum Disease Management

Our team wants to provide laser dentistry and more to help improve your oral health. To learn more about the treatment and management of gum disease, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.