Treat Gum Disease to Minimize the Risk of Tooth Loss
You can’t have a beautiful smile without strong, healthy teeth. Similarly, you can’t have beautiful teeth without strong, healthy gums. The gums hold the teeth in position and offer the strength and support that allows them to function properly. Unfortunately, if the health of the gums becomes compromised, so does this support system. Gum disease is a common condition that can be damaging to oral health. In fact, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. At his dental practice, Dr. Andrew G. Mortensen offers a range of restorative dentistry treatments to improve the health of the teeth and gums so that patients can maintain a smile that is strong, healthy, and beautiful. To learn more about gum disease and tooth loss, read on, and then contact our Fountain Valley, CA practice.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a term that most people have probably heard, but many people remain unaware of exactly what gum disease, or periodontal disease, actually is. Essentially, gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue. Just like tooth decay, this infection is caused by a buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar. When these substances are not removed from the teeth, they can work their way beneath the gum line and cause the games to become inflamed and infected.
Gum Disease and Tooth Loss
Gum disease is a progressive condition that can lead to a number of different symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of gum disease include swelling, tenderness, and bleeding of the gums. As gum disease worsens, more serious symptoms are likely to develop. The symptom that is the biggest threat to the teeth is gum recession.
Gum recession is often a symptom of moderate to advanced stages of gum diseases. As the health of the gums continues to deteriorate, the gum tissue begins to recede, or pull away from the teeth. This creates periodontal pockets, or large gaps of space between the base of the teeth and the gum line. These periodontal pockets threaten the teeth in two ways. First, they create a gap of space that makes it easier for bacteria to reach between the teeth and gums, further aggravating gum (and possibly tooth) infection. Second, gum recession weakens the foundation of the teeth. As the gums pull away from the teeth, the teeth are left with inferior support. If gum disease is not treated, this gum recession can lead to loose teeth and, eventually, tooth loss.
Treating Gum Disease
To prevent tooth loss due to gum disease, it is important to restore healthy gum tissue. There are a number of restorative dentistry treatments that can rid the gums of infection and promote the growth of new, healthy gum tissue. Dr. Mortensen always prefers to treat gum disease as conservatively as possible. Most patients respond well to a deep cleaning technique known as root planing and scaling. This procedure cleans beneath the gum line to eliminate infection-causing bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Dr. Mortensen is happy to discuss this treatment technique, and others, with those patients who are suffering from gum disease.
Contact Us
If you are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease, it is important to seek treatment before the problem becomes more serious. Dr. Andrew Mortensen offers the treatment that is necessary to eliminate infection and restore healthy gum tissue to prevent tooth loss. To learn more about our restorative dentistry services, contact us at your earliest convenience.