Webster Groves, MO

Periodontal Treatment Webster Groves, MO

Periodontal Treatment in Webster Groves, MO. Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a common condition. While it can cause anything from mild irritation to significant dental problems, it can affect the smile, comfort, and confidence of anyone who has it. If your gums have become irritated, daily tasks like brushing your teeth lead to bleeding, or you are experiencing more serious issues like teeth falling out, do not wait to get periodontal treatment in Webster Groves, MO. Plaza Dental Center is comprised of a caring and friendly staff that treats every patient as if they were part of our family in order to break down barriers that prevent many people from getting the dental care they need. For periodontal treatment in Webster Groves, MO, or just a regular examination with a friendly dentist, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.

Stages of Gum Disease | Webster Groves, MO Periodontal Treatment

According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects just under half of adults over 30, and almost three-quarters of seniors suffer from it. Periodontal infections are broken down into two different stages: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if you don’t seek treatment in a timely fashion:

1. Gingivitis — Gingivitis is a mild and common form of periodontal disease that is the result of plaque building up on your teeth. If the plaque is not removed through proper oral health care, 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, leading to the development of gingivitis. Common symptoms of gingivitis include:
   • Redness
   • Inflammation
   • Chronic bad breath
   • Receding gums
   • Sore gums
   • Pain when eating
   • New teeth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
   • Bleeding when brushing

   If you experience even one of those indicators, don’t wait to get gingivitis treatment, or it could lead to significant dental problems down the line.

2. Periodontitis — Periodontitis is a serious dental problem that occurs when gingivitis is allowed to persist. 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 therapy, periodontitis can cause tooth loss and even damage to your jaw bone. 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

   If you are worried you might have periodontitis, reach out to a Webster Groves, MO dentist for periodontal treatment right away, and make an appointment for emergency dental procedures if a tooth is loose or falls out.

Periodontitis Risk Factors

For the most part, it’s possible to prevent gingivitis and other periodontal conditions ourselves. We can all practice good oral health that will lower the risk of having to seek out periodontal treatment. Associated risk factors include:

• Poor oral care habits
• Not going to twice yearly dental examinations
• Smoking or otherwise using tobacco
• Old age
• Xerostomia
• Insufficient nutrition
• Diseases that decrease immunity
• Certain prescription drugs
• DNA
• Certain viral or fungal infections
• Stress
• Teeth grinding

While some risk factors are beyond our control, good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing and twice yearly cleanings and polishings go a long way in preventing gum disease by removing harmful bacteria and plaque that cause it. Biannual dental examinations at a professional dentist office will spot early warning signs and treat gingivitis before it worsens.

Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease in Webster Groves, MO

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

• Antibiotics — In gingivitis’s early stages, antibiotics are often a first recourse for non-invasive procedures. Antibiotics can be applied with topical gels applied where your teeth and gums or medicated mouthwash.
• Deep scaling and root planning — Tartar adheres the most to tooth roots. Deep scaling refers to a dentist removing plaque and tartar below the gum line with a laser or ultrasonic scaler. After deep scaling, your dentist will perform root planning, which smooths tooth surfaces, promoting proper healing.
• LANAP or Laser Assisted Regeneration — LANAP is a dental technology which uses a laser to to single out and destroy damaged tissue and germs. After exploding and removing damaged tissue, your Webster Groves, MO dentist will use the laser again to connect gum tissue back to the root.
• Maxillofacial surgery — Also called oral surgery, some procedures may include osseous surgery, a procedure that removes damages tissue and encloses the gum back around the tooth. Other surgeries such as soft tissue grafts from either a donation or another part of your mouth to replace damaged tissue, or a bone graft if the bone at the root of your teeth has been destroyed.
• Other treatment options — Other methods may be guided tissue regeneration, which places an artificial membrane between the bone and tooth to prevent diseased tissue from touching the tooth and encourage the body’s natural healing process. Your Webster Groves, 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, the Plaza Dental Center team can insert dental implants to permanently replace those teeth. Your Webster Groves, 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 was met 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 Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, 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

Webster Groves, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center

Whether you’re seeking periodontal treatment to relieve redness and swelling and prevent further buildup, or need serious dental work done, Plaza Dental Centers dedicated, empathetic, and expert Webster Groves, 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 basic tasks comfortable. To make an appointment with the leaders of Webster Groves, MO periodontal treatment, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.