Restore a Healthy Smile with Timely Treatment
Gum (periodontal) disease is a progressive infection of the soft tissue. If you have noticed that your gums appear swollen or bleed when you brush or floss, you may be showing the first signs of gum disease, called gingivitis. While gingivitis can be reversed with proper and timely treatment, untreated gum disease can progress to advanced periodontitis where severe gum recession occurs, teeth become loose and can eventually fall out, and the jaw bone begins to deteriorate. If you are showing signs of gum disease, we recommend you receive treatment immediately to ensure the health of your smile is restored. We offer solutions that can effectively treat gum disease in any stage, with both surgical and non-surgical methods, and can help you manage your gum disease to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
- Red, inflamed gums
- Bleeding gums
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Receding gums
- Deepening pockets around teeth
- Bite changes
- Pus around gums
Treating Gum Disease with Trusted, Effective Methods
Gum disease first affects the gums, but can harm the teeth and jaw bone if left to advance without treatment. Our treatment process includes removing all traces of bacteria and diseased gum tissue. If needed, we will contour the jaw bone to encourage reattachment of the healthy gum tissue, lessening the depth of the pockets around the tooth roots where bacteria thrive. Traditional osseous surgery, a time-tested gum disease treatment method, can effectively bring health back to the gums. Many patients, however, choose laser gum therapy as a minimally invasive alternative. Laser dentistry poses many benefits for patients, especially those with dental anxiety or fear. Laser technology allows us to treat many periodontal concerns with greater precision and comfort for you, without the need for scalpels and incisions of traditional surgery. In addition to osseous and laser surgery, we offer the following periodontal services:
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Periodontal maintenance
If you have been diagnosed with periodontitis, regular gum disease treatments and routine deep cleanings every three months are necessary to help keep your gums, teeth, and jaw bone healthy. We provide customized, comprehensive treatment to help ensure that your gum disease is treated effectively and monitored carefully, so you can enjoy years of improved oral health.
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Scaling and root planing
If caught in the earliest stage of gingivitis, when damage below the gum line has not yet occurred, gum disease can be effectively treated with scaling and root planing. This deep cleaning begins with “scaling” the teeth to remove the plaque and tartar that has built up both above and below the gum line. Next, “root planing” smooths the rough surface of the tooth root to help the gums reattach.
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Gingivectomies
A gingivectomy can effectively reverse the appearance of a “gummy” smile, but it has functional benefits as well. During a procedure, excess or diseased gum tissue is removed from around the teeth. The healthy gums are encouraged to reattach back to the teeth to help discourage bacteria from building up below the gum line.
Restore Confidence with Gum Disease Treatment
Dr. Steven Garhardt is highly experienced in both surgical and non-surgical methods and will discuss the best treatment plan with you during your initial consultation. Creating a safe environment and comfortable experiences is one of our top priorities for you as our patient, and we offer oral sedation if you need assistance feeling relaxed and calm during your procedure. Our goal is to help restore a smile you can feel confident in once again!