University City, MO

Periodontal Treatment University City, MO

Periodontal Treatment in University City, MO. Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a common condition. While it can cause anything from slight swelling 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 activities like brushing your teeth lead to bleeding, or you are experiencing more serious issues like significant gaps between your teeth and gums, do not wait to get periodontal treatment in University City, MO. Plaza Dental Center is comprised of a caring and friendly staff that treats everyone who walks through our doors as if they were part of our family to they feel comfortable when getting the care they need. For periodontal treatment in University City, MO, or just a regular cleaning with a welcoming dentist, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or request an appointment online.

Two Types of Gum Disease | University City, MO Periodontal Treatment

According to data compiled by the CDC, 47.2% of adults older than 30 suffer from periodontal disease, and the vast majority of adults over 65 suffer from it. Periodontal infections are viewed through two different categories: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if the disease is allowed to progress:

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 is a hard calcified deposit that contributes to decay, and can only be removed by a dentist. If the tartar is not removed, the gingiva, or the the tissue that surrounds the base of the teeth, it causes inflammation, signaling the onset of gingivitis. You may have gingivitis if you notice:
   • Redness
   • Inflammation
   • Bad Breath that won’t go away
   • Receding gums
   • Sore gums
   • Painful chewing
   • New teeth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
   • Bleeding when brushing

   If you are dealing with even one of those symptoms, don’t wait to get gingivitis treatment, or it could lead to significant dental problems in the future.

2. Periodontitis — Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease that occurs when the bacteria which tartar collects and protects spreads deeper into your gums. This creating pockets between your teeth and gums where more bacteria will collect. If still left untreated, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Symptoms include:
   • Purplish gums
   • Gums that bleed easily
   • Gaps between your teeth and gums
   • Pus in your periodontal pockets
   • Loose teeth
   • Tooth loss
   • A change in in your bite marks

   If you show any symptoms of periodontitis, reach out to a University City, MO dentist for periodontal treatment as soon as possible, and call Plaza Dental Center for emergency dental services you are losing teeth or about to lose a tooth.

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 having to seek out periodontal treatment. Certain risk factors include:

• Poor oral care habits
• Not going to regular dental cleanings
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Old age
• Dry mouth
• Inadequate nutrition
• Diseases that compromise immunity
• Certain medications
• Genetics
• Certain viral or fungal infections
• Stress
• Teeth grinding

While we don’t have responsibility over every risk factor, simple and practical steps such as brushing and flossing and regular cleanings and polishings can prevent the vast majority of cases. Regular dental examinations at a professional dentist office will spot early warning signs and treat gingivitis before it worsens.

Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease in University City, MO

While prevention and care often stave off periodontal conditions, sometimes it’s too little too late. Once gum disease has developed, your University City, MO dentist may implement one or more of the following treatments:

• Antibiotics — In gingivitis’s early stages, antibiotics are frequently the easiest and least invasive approach. Antibiotics can be applied with topical gels applied where your teeth and gums or prescription mouthwash.
• Deep scaling and root planning — Tartar adheres most strongly to tooth roots. 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, promoting proper healing.
• 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 University City, MO dentist will use use a different laser to reduce the gap between your teeth and gums.
• Maxillofacial surgery — Commonly known as oral surgery, some procedures may 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 your palate to replace diseased tissue, or a bone graft if the bone at the root of your teeth has been destroyed.
• Other methods — Other methods may be guided tissue regeneration, which stimulates the growth of bone affected by gum disease. Your University City, MO dentist may also use a topical 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 University City, 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 was met with large, complex cases while pursuing 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 University City, MO. Anxious patients are of particular concern to us. 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 University City, 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

University City, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center

Whether you’re seeking periodontal treatment to relieve inflammation and prevent further buildup, or need to completely restore your smile, Plaza Dental Centers committed, friendly, and capable University City, MO team will get you smiling as you leave our office as soon as humanly possible. Everyone deserves a smile they feel confident with, and a healthy mouth that makes basic tasks comfortable. To make an appointment with the leaders of University City, MO periodontal treatment, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.