Swollen, red, irritated, and bleeding gums are signs of periodontal disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, begins as gingivitis and advances into periodontitis. When you do not floss or brush as recommended, then your gums become irritated. They begin to move away from the tooth putting it at risk of bone, tissue, and tooth loss. This is a serious disease that should be treated right away. Below, there are three treatments that we use in Periodontal Therapy. As always, the team at Rightway Dental wants to help you care for your smile and prevent or treat gum disease. If you feel that you have any of these symptoms, call us right away.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that creates pockets around the tooth’s base. The first treatment option that Dr. Ruiz may use is an in-depth dental cleaning. This cleaning goes beyond your bi-annual clean. The hygienist will scrape the plaque and tartar off of your teeth. These bacterias can build-up in the pockets around the teeth and make the periodontal disease worse. Your hygienist may use an electric or manual scraper to remove the bacteria. Dr. Ruiz may give you a prescription mouthwash to control and reduce the damage from your periodontal disease.

If the gums around the tooth are badly damaged, Dr. Ruiz and her team may use gum grafting, plastic surgery, or laser treatment to fix the gums around the tooth. In a gum graft, Dr. Ruiz will take part of your gums from one side of your tooth and move it to the affected tooth. This will strengthen the tooth and the gums. You can improve the appearance of your gums by reshaping them with plastic surgery. Lastly, you can remove the gums that have periodontal disease with a laser. Amazing!

Sometimes periodontal disease advances and it cannot be undone. In this case, you may have bone or tooth loss. Dr. Ruiz may use a crown lengthening surgery or a dental implant to cover or replace the tooth. If there is enough jawbone left, Dr. Ruiz can drill a screw into your jaw. Next, she will place a crown over it. A dental implant will look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. The best part? It can help repair your periodontal disease.

Flossing is a big factor in preventing periodontal disease. It may seem like a small part of your oral hygiene routine, but you need to floss to care for your gums. At Rightway Dental, we tell our patients to brush twice a day for two minutes each and to floss once per day. Secondly, you can prevent gum disease with regular visits at Rightway Dental & meet our experts. Professional cleanings from our hygienists can get out bad bacteria and keep your mouth healthy. Read our blogs for more information about dental health

You don’t have to live with painful, bleeding gums! We can help. For more information about periodontal disease and therapy or to plan your next visit, call us today at (232)-281-1801!