Achieve Healthy Gums with Periodontal Disease Treatment
According to the American Dental Association, about 42% of patients aged 30 and above have some form of gum disease. Gum or periodontal disease is a severe bacterial infection that affects the gums and surrounding structures. Untreated gum disease can cause receding gums, chronic bad breath, and tooth loss!
Miss your healthy gums? Blue Back Dental offers gum disease treatment in our West Hartford and Avon practices. With our certified periodontist, Dr. Steven Meltzer, we are well-equipped to provide care for mild to advanced gum disease.
How does gum disease develop?
Gum disease develops in stages. The earliest, most treatable stage is gingivitis. Gingivitis develops when plaque thrives in the mouth because of poor oral hygiene. Gingivitis is characterized by gum tissues that are swollen, tender, red, and easily bleed when brushing and flossing.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress into periodontitis, where the infection spreads beneath the gum line and begins to damage the periodontal ligaments. This causes gums to detach from the teeth, causing gum recession and deep pockets around the teeth. Without intervention, the condition can worsen into advanced periodontal disease, where the infection attacks the teeth-supporting structures, causing tooth loss.Â
Uncontrolled oral infections create an “inflammation overload” in the body. Why does this matter? Increased inflammation puts you at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, and other systemic complications. When you notice symptoms of gum disease, take action before it’s too late.
How is periodontal disease treated?
Dr. Meltzer uses a conservative approach to treat gum disease. Gingivitis responds favorably to standard dental cleanings and good oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, and mouth rinses). However, moderate to advanced gum disease may require more advanced treatments.
These include:
- Deep teeth cleaning: This treatment is a two-part process that’s recommended to manage the infection and promote healing. The first step is to remove plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from the tooth surface and below the gums (scaling). Root planing involves smoothing the tooth roots to remove rough patches that attract harmful bacteria. Polished roots also encourage healthy tissues to reattach to your gums, reducing the deep periodontal pockets over time.
- Antibiotic therapy: The periodontist may complement scaling and root planing (SRP) with antibiotics. We use Arestin, a localized antibiotic applied to the deep pockets to target harmful bacteria at the source. Arestin slowly releases antibiotics gradually over several weeks, targeting stubborn bacteria left after a deep clean.
Is gum disease treatment painful?
We always maximize your comfort, ensuring a stress-free dental experience. Since deep teeth cleaning is more extensive than routine cleaning, the doctor begins by administering local anesthetics. To make the treatment more comfortable, we divide your treatment into two or four appointments. We can treat each quadrant or half of your mouth at a time so you can continue using the other areas comfortably between visits.
While you won’t feel pain during the procedure, mild soreness, sensitivity, and slight bleeding are expected afterward. We’ll provide personalized aftercare instructions to support a smooth recovery and schedule follow-up visits to monitor your healing progress.
Does a dentist near me offer gum disease treatment?
Gum disease is progressive and can cause irreversible damage when left untreated. Do you suspect gum disease? Time is of the essence, so get in touch with Blue Back Dental today! Call our Avon (860) 406-5900 or West Hartford (860) 530-4900Â office for periodontal disease treatment.
