If you are experiencing sensitive inflamed gums or bleeding while you brush or floss your teeth, then you may be experiencing early symptoms of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an infection in the soft tissue of your mouth that damages your gums and will eventually result in damage to the bone that holds your teeth in place.

Periodontal disease is common but can be prevented through good oral hygiene practices and regular professional cleanings. There are several consequences of periodontal disease such as tooth loss. If you are experiencing possible symptoms of periodontal disease, our team at Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS can provide you with high-quality treatment to combat periodontal disease and protect your smile.

What Are the Symptoms of Periodontal Disease?

The symptoms of periodontal disease vary based on how advanced the disease is. Early symptoms are relatively minor and can be easily treated. As the disease progresses, you will experience worsening symptoms that can severely affect the health of your smile and overall quality of life.

Minor symptoms of periodontal disease, such as overly sensitive gums and bleeding, can be treated with less invasive options and do not generally require surgery. As periodontal disease progresses, you will start to experience weakening and receding gums. This will ultimately result in tooth loss if your disease goes untreated.

How Is Periodontal Disease Diagnosed?

Our professionals diagnose periodontal disease during a routine exam and cleaning. The first step is completing a cleaning and scraping excess plaque and debris off of your teeth. They will then measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums. A normal measurement range for these pockets is between 1mm and 3mm.

Pockets in excess of 3mm are an indicator of periodontal disease. If the pockets are 5mm or greater, this is a sign of advanced periodontal disease and our team will need to take digital images of your teeth to check for bone loss. Our team will discuss these results with you and develop a treatment plan to meet your needs.

How Is Periodontal Disease Treated?

Early periodontal disease is treated through a variety of non-surgical procedures. The most basic treatment for periodontal disease is good oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings. In addition to these practices, our team will scale your teeth during your visit. Scaling involves the use of a metal instrument to remove hardened plaque from your teeth and gums.

A process called root planing is generally used in conjunction with scaling. Root planing involves smoothing the roots of your teeth with a metal instrument to allow your gums to heal and reconnect to your roots. This process may need to be completed several times until your gums fully heal.

If you are suffering from more advanced periodontal disease, our team may need to utilize surgical procedures such as pocket reduction surgery. During this procedure, one of our professionals will make an incision on the areas of your gums that have been affected by this disease. They will then scale the tooth and suture your gums back in place to reduce the size of the pocket.

Receiving prompt treatment for periodontal disease is important to preserve the health of your smile and also to save you money. Our team at Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS can meet all of your oral health needs and treat your periodontal disease symptoms. You can reach us by calling 915-213-3455 today.

For more information, check out our Gum Disease FAQ