Bel-Ridge, MO

Periodontal Treatment Bel-Ridge, MO

Periodontal Treatment in Bel-Ridge, MO. Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a condition that affects many Americans. While cases can range from mild irritation to tooth and bone loss, it can affect our daily lives and limit how much we want to smile. If your gums have become irritated, daily activities like eating lead to bleeding, or you are experiencing more serious issues like teeth falling out, do not wait to get periodontal treatment in Bel-Ridge, MO. Plaza Dental Center is comprised of a caring and friendly staff that treats every patient as family to ensure a positive experience. For periodontal treatment in Bel-Ridge, MO, or just a regular cleaning with a friendly dentist, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or make an appointment online.

Stages of Periodontal Disease | Bel-Ridge, MO Periodontal Treatment

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects almost half of adults older than 30, and 70.1% of seniors suffer from it. Periodontal infections are classified in two different stages: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if it’s not treated:

1. Gingivitis — Gingivitis is a mild and common form of periodontal disease that is the result of plaque building up on your teeth. If you do not practice good oral health and remove the plaque, it becomes tartar which collects and protects more bacteria. If the tartar is not removed, the gingiva, or the part of the gums at the base of the teeth, it irritates your gums, leading to the gum disease known as gingivitis. You may have gingivitis if you experience:
   • Redness
   • Inflammation
   • Bad Breath that won’t go away
   • Receding gums
   • Sore gums
   • Painful chewing
   • New teeth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
   • Blood on your toothbrush

   If you are dealing with any of the above indicators, don’t wait to get gingivitis treatment, or it could lead to serious dental problems in the future.

2. Periodontitis — Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that occurs when gingivitis is not treated. This causes your gums to recede and allows for bacteria to build up closer to your teeth roots. If you do not immediately seek periodontal treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Symptoms include:
   • Deep red gums
   • Gums that bleed easily
   • Gaps between your teeth and gums
   • Pus in your periodontal pockets
   • Wobbly teeth
   • Tooth loss
   • A change in in your bite marks

   At the first sign of periodontitis, find a qualified Bel-Ridge, MO dentist for periodontal treatment immediately, and call Plaza Dental Center for emergency dental procedures you are losing teeth or about to lose a tooth.

Periodontitis Risk Factors

The development of gingivitis and other periodontal disease is not random. We can all practice good oral health that will lower the risk of needing periodontal treatment. Associated risk factors include:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Not going to regular dental cleanings
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Old age
• Dry mouth
• Vitamin C deficiency
• Diseases that decrease immunity
• Certain medications
• Genetics
• Certain viral or fungal infections
• Stress
• Bruxism

While we don’t have responsibility over every risk factor, good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing and twice yearly cleanings and polishings will usually not allow gingivitis to occur. Biannual dental examinations at a professional dental office will will diagnose and treat gingivitis before it develops into periodontitis.

Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease in Bel-Ridge, MO

While prevention and care usually prevents periodontal conditions, sometimes it’s too little too late. Once gum disease has developed, there are a variety of treatment options your Bel-Ridge, MO dentist can pursue depending on the severity of the disease:

• Antibiotics — When prevention fails, antibiotics are usually the easiest and least invasive approach. Antibiotics can be given with topical gels applied on your periodontal pockets or prescription mouthwash.
• Deep scaling and root planning — Tartar sticks most strongly to the hardest spots of the enamel on our teeth. Deep scaling refers to a dentist removing plaque and tartar below the gum line with a laser or ultrasonic scaler. Scaling can leave the tooth surface rough, so it is usually followed by root planning, which smooths tooth surfaces, which prevents further buildup and reduces post-scaling irritation.
• LANAP or Laser Assisted Regeneration — LANAP is a dental technology which uses a laser to target and remove diseased tissue and kill germs while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. Once the harmful tissue and bacteria is gone, your Bel-Ridge, MO dentist will use use a different laser to create a seal around the tooth which allows gum and bone tissue to regenerate.
• Maxillofacial surgery — The technical term for oral surgery, this can include osseous surgery, a procedure that removes damages tissue and connects the gingiva back to the tooth. Your dentist may also perform soft tissue grafts from the roof of your mouth to replace diseased tissue, or a bone graft if the bone at the root of your teeth has been destroyed.
• Other methods — Other methods can include guided tissue regeneration, which places a special fabric between the bone and tooth to prevent diseased tissue from touching the tooth and encourage the body’s natural healing process. Your Bel-Ridge, MO dentist may also implement a special gel on a diseased tooth root that also encourages healthy tissue regeneration.
• Dental implants — If part of your periodontal treatment includes replacing lost teeth, your dentist implement dental implants, which look, feel, and act just like natural teeth.

Our lead dentist Dr. Joseph Cutrona was met with serious dental problems while doing his residency at the University of Michigan. This means he has extensive experience with all dental problems and procedures in Bel-Ridge, MO. Apprehensive patients are of particular concern to us. If you have serious gum disease partially caused by anxiety sitting in the dentist’s chair, we’ll ensure you feel calm, confident, and comfortable so you can get back to optimum dental health.

See what other services we offer in Bel-Ridge, MO by clicking on the links below:

• Dental Emergency
• Gum Contouring
• Broken Tooth Repair
• Invisalign®
• Tooth Pain Relief
• Composite Fillings
• Tooth Pain
• Gingivitis Treatment
• Dentist Near Me

Bel-Ridge, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center

Whether you’re in need of periodontal treatment to relieve irritation and prevent further buildup, or need serious dental work done, Plaza Dental Centers dedicated, compassionate, and capable Bel-Ridge, MO team will get you smiling as you walk out the door as soon as humanly possible. We want you to have a radiant smile and a healthy mouth that makes things like chewing and brushing pain-free. For the highest quality periodontal treatment in Bel-Ridge, MO, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.