Brentwood, MO

Periodontal Treatment Brentwood, MO

Periodontal Treatment in Brentwood, MO. Periodontal disease, medically referred to as gum disease, is a common condition. While cases can range from mild irritation to painful dental issues, it can affect the smile, comfort, and confidence of anyone who has it. If your gums have become irritated, basic tasks like eating lead to bleeding, or you are experiencing more serious issues like significant gaps between your teeth and gums, you need periodontal treatment in Brentwood, MO. Plaza Dental Center has an amazing team that treats every patient as family in order to break down barriers that prevent many people from getting the dental care they need. For periodontal treatment in Brentwood, MO, or just a standard cleaning with a friendly dentist, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or schedule an appointment online.

Stages of Gum Disease | Brentwood, MO Periodontal Treatment

According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects just under half of adults older than 30, and 70.1% of adults over 65 have it. Periodontal infections are viewed through two different categories: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if it’s not treated:

1. Gingivitis — Gingivitis happens when plaque that contains bacteria and harmful toxins builds up. If you do not follow good oral health and remove the plaque, it becomes tartar which is a hard calcified deposit that contributes to decay, and can only be removed by a dentist. As more and more tartar builds up, the gingiva, or the the tissue that surrounds the base of the teeth, it causes inflammation, leading to the gum disease known as gingivitis. You may have gingivitis if you notice:
   • Redness
   • Swelling
   • Bad Breath that won’t go away
   • Receding gums
   • Tender gums
   • Painful chewing
   • New teeth sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
   • Blood on your toothbrush

   If you experience even one of those warning signs, it’s important to seek out gingivitis treatment right away, 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 creating pockets between your teeth and gums where more bacteria will collect. If still left untreated, periodontitis can damage surrounding tissue, including bone and tooth loss. Symptoms include:
   • Purplish gums
   • Gums that bleed easily
   • Gaps between your teeth and gums
   • Pus between your teeth and gums
   • Loose teeth
   • Teeth falling out
   • A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

   At the first sign of periodontitis, find a qualified Brentwood, MO dentist for periodontal treatment immediately, and schedule an appointment for emergency dental services if a tooth is loose or falls out.

Periodontitis Risk Factors

For the most part, it’s possible to prevent gingivitis and other periodontal disease ourselves. We can all make active decisions in our daily lives that lower the risk of needing periodontal treatment. Associated risk factors include:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Not going to twice yearly dental cleanings
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Old age
• Dry mouth
• Vitamin C deficiency
• Conditions that compromise immunity
• Certain prescription drugs
• DNA
• Certain viral or fungal infections
• Stress
• Teeth grinding

While some risk factors are beyond our control, basic dental health habits such as brushing and flossing and biannually cleanings and polishings can prevent the vast majority of cases. Consistent dental examinations at a professional dentist office will will diagnose and treat gingivitis before it develops into periodontitis.

Periodontal Treatment Methods in Brentwood, MO

While prevention and care often stave off gum disease, sometimes it’s too little too late. Once gum disease has progressed, there are a variety of treatment options your Brentwood, MO dentist can pursue depending on the severity of the disease:

• Antibiotics — In gum disease’s early stages, antibiotics are often the easiest and least invasive approach. Antibiotics can be given with topical gels applied where your teeth and gums or antiseptic mouthwash.
• Deep scaling and root planning — Tartar adheres most strongly to the rough spots of our teeth. Deep scaling refers to a dentist removing plaque and tartar from the pockets between the teeth and gums 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, preventing further buildup.
• LANAP or Laser Assisted Regeneration — LANAP is a dental technology which uses a laser to to single out and remove damaged tissue and germs. After exploding and removing damaged tissue, your Brentwood, MO dentist will use use a different laser to create a seal around the tooth which allows healthy tissue to grow back undisturbed.
• Maxillofacial surgery — Commonly known as oral surgery, this can include osseous surgery, or pocket reduction surgery, to remove bacteria and diseased gum tissue, smooth any damaged bone, and stitches your gum back to the tooth. Your dentist may also perform soft tissue grafts from either a donation or another part of your mouth to replace diseased tissue, or a bone graft if your roots or jaw bone have been damaged.
• Other treatment options — Other methods may be guided tissue regeneration, which stimulates the growth of bone affected by gum disease. Your Brentwood, MO dentist may also implement a special gel on damaged roots that also encourages healthy tissue regeneration.
• Dental implants — If part of your periodontal treatment includes replacing lost teeth, your dentist can insert dental implants to permanently replace those teeth. Your Brentwood, MO dentist will insert a titanium screw into your gums and jaw bone to act as an artificial tooth root, and then cap it with a tooth-colored porcelain crown.

Plaza Dental Center’s Dr. Joseph Cutrona had the unique opportunity to deal with large, complex cases while doing his residency at the University of Michigan. This means he is capable of treating anything from mild gingivitis to significant bone loss in his periodontal treatment in Brentwood, MO. We are especially interested in patients are nervous about having dental work done. If your gingivitis progressed partially because you were wary of the dentist’s chair, we’ll do everything possible to make you feel comfortable so you can get back to optimum dental health.

See what other services we offer in Brentwood, 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

Brentwood, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center

Whether you’re in need of periodontal treatment to relieve redness and swelling and prevent further buildup, or need to completely restore your smile, Plaza Dental Centers committed, friendly, and expert Brentwood, MO team will get you smiling as you walk down the street in no time. We want you to have a radiant smile and a healthy mouth that makes basic tasks comfortable. For the highest quality periodontal treatment in Brentwood, MO, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.