Periodontal Treatment Crestwood, MO
Periodontal Treatment in Crestwood, MO. Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a condition that affects many Americans. While it can cause anything from mild redness to tooth and bone loss, it can affect the smile, comfort, and confidence of anyone who has it. If your gums have become irritated, basic tasks like eating are painful, or you are experiencing more serious issues like teeth falling out, it is time to seek periodontal treatment in Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, MO, or just a standard examination with a friendly dentist, get in touch with Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
Stages of Gum Disease | Crestwood, MO Periodontal Treatment
According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects 47.2% of adults older than 30, and almost three-quarters of seniors have it. Periodontal infections are viewed through two different categories: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if it’s not treated:
- 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 collects and protects more bacteria. If the tartar is allowed to accumulate, the gingiva, or the the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place, it causes inflammation, the condition known as gingivitis. You may have gingivitis if you experience:
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Bad Breath that won’t go away
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New teeth sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding after brushing your teeth
If you experience even one of those symptoms, don’t wait to get gingivitis treatment, or it could lead to serious dental problems in the future.
- 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 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
- Wobbly teeth
- Teeth falling out
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
If you are worried you might have periodontitis, find a qualified Crestwood, MO dentist for periodontal treatment ASAP, and schedule an appointment 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 arbitrary. We can all make active decisions in our daily lives that lower the risk of needing periodontal treatment. Known risk factors include:
- Poor oral care habits
- Lack of regular professional dental care
- Smoking or otherwise using tobacco
- Old age
- Xerostomia
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Diseases that compromise immunity
- Specific medications
- DNA
- Certain viral or fungal infections
- Stress
- Teeth grinding
While some risk factors are beyond our control, simple and practical steps such as brushing and flossing and biannually cleanings and polishings go a long way in preventing gum disease by removing harmful bacteria and plaque that cause it. Twice yearly dental examinations at a professional dental office will catch gingivitis in its early stages.
Periodontal Treatment Methods in Crestwood, MO
While prevention and care usually prevents gingivitis and periodontitis, sometimes it’s too little too late. Once gum disease has developed, your Crestwood, MO dentist may implement one or more of the following treatments:
- Antibiotics — In gum disease’s early stages, antibiotics are often the easiest and least invasive approach. Antibiotics can be applied with antiseptics applied on your periodontal pockets or antiseptic mouthwash.
- Deep scaling and root planning — Tartar adheres most strongly to the rough spots of our teeth. Deep scaling involves using a laser to scrape below gums and remove tartar. After deep scaling, your dentist will perform root planning, which smooths tooth surfaces, preventing further buildup.
- 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. After exploding and removing damaged tissue, your Crestwood, MO dentist will use the laser again to reduce the gap between your teeth and gums.
- Maxillofacial surgery — The technical term for 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. Other surgeries such as soft tissue grafts from your palate to replace damaged tissue, or a bone graft if the bone at the root of your teeth has been destroyed.
- Other treatment options — Other treatment options may be guided tissue regeneration, which places a special fabric between the bone and tooth to prevent diseased tissue from touching the tooth and to allow it to grow back naturally. Your Crestwood, MO dentist may also implement a special gel on a diseased tooth root that also encourages healthy tissue regeneration.
- Dental implants — If you’re seeking periodontal treatment because you’ve already lost a tooth, the Plaza Dental Center team can insert dental implants to permanently replace those teeth. Your Crestwood, 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.
Our lead dentist Dr. Joseph Cutrona had the unique opportunity to deal with substantial dental problems early on in his dental education. This means he can help Crestwood, MO residents with mild to severe dental problems. 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 ensure you feel calm, confident, and comfortable so you can get back to optimum dental health.
See what other services we offer in Crestwood, 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
Crestwood, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center
Whether you’re in need of periodontal treatment to relieve redness and swelling and remove tartar, or need to completely restore your smile, Plaza Dental Centers dedicated, friendly, and expert Crestwood, MO team will get you smiling as you leave our office in no time. We want you to have a radiant smile and a healthy mouth that makes things like chewing and brushing comfortable. For the highest quality periodontal treatment in Crestwood, MO, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online form.