Gum Disease Treatments
While the practice of good oral hygiene habits can help prevent oral health problems, we cannot always prevent plaque buildup completely. When plaque buildup gets out of hand, it can lead to gum disease. There are other factors that can also make a patient more likely to suffer from gum disease. Dr. Andrew G. Mortensen, a leading Fountain Valley cosmetic dentist, offers gum disease treatment for the various stages of periodontal disease.
Causes and Symptoms of Gum Disease
The primary cause of gum disease is plaque buildup. However, research shows that illness, smoking, and genetics can also lead to gum disease. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, describes gums that are unhealthy. In patients who suffer from this condition, the gums recede as healthy tissue is destroyed. People suffering from gum disease may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Gums that feel tender or painful
- Gums that have become darker in color
- Chronic bad breath
- An elongated appearance to the teeth
- Patients in the advanced stages of gum disease may even experience tooth loss
It is important to treat gum disease before it leads to further health problems throughout the body. If you believe you may be suffering from gum disease, Dr. Mortensen can examine your teeth and discuss treatment options.
Gum Disease Treatment
There are different options available to treat gum disease. Dr. Mortensen will suggest a treatment option based on the severity of each patient’s case of gum disease. For mild cases of gum disease, a set of dental cleanings scheduled every three months may improve the condition. More severe cases of gum disease may require one or more of the following treatments:
- Scaling and root planing: Dr. Mortensen can use this treatment to reduce the presence of plaque and bacteria. While a regular dental cleaning only reaches exposed teeth and gums, this procedure allows him to reach beneath the teeth and gums.
- Flap surgery: When patients are in the more advanced stages of gum disease we may need to physically lift the gums in order to access all of the plaque that has built up. If this is the case, flap surgery will be performed.
- Guided tissue regeneration treatment: The treatment for gum disease should do two things. First, it should clean the gums and teeth, and second, it should stimulate tissue growth. As the gums become infected and overcome by plaque, healthy tissue dies. This is why pockets are created between the teeth. Guided tissue regeneration promotes the growth of new tissue so that these pockets can close up and keep bacteria and plaque out.
In some cases, patients who suffer from gum disease will have damaged teeth as a result. For Dr. Mortensen’s patients in Fountain Valley, dental crowns, dental implants, or other restorative dentistry procedures can be used to repair damaged, fractured, or missing teeth.
Schedule an Appointment
If you believe you may be suffering from gum disease, it is important to seek treatment before the condition worsens. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrew G. Mortensen to discuss treatment options.
