Gum Disease
Treat gum disease now.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is extraordinarily commonplace among adults. It is the #1 leading cause of tooth loss, and according to the American Heart Association there is a direct link between the severity of gum disease and the likelihood of experiencing systemic disease conditions such as heart attack and stroke. Other serious conditions linked with gum disease include diabetes, premature labour, obesity and erectile dysfunction. Dealing with gum disease not only affects your smile, it affects your overall health.
How can Cosmic Smile help you?
There are 2 stages of gum disease, and both can be treated through preventive, therapeutic or maintenance visits at Cosmic Smile Dental:
Gingivitis
This early stage of gum disease is evident by the presence of red, swollen or bleeding gums. This inflammation occurs when plaque is not efficiently removed from the teeth or below the gumlines through routine brushing and flossing. Gingivitis can easily be reversed through preventive care appointments with our hygienist. You will be shown simple and effective methods for plaque removal so that the inflammation can be resolved and prevented from recurring again.
Periodontitis
When left untreated, gingivitis can lead to the development of deep pockets under the gums. Bad breath, receding gums and tartar are symptoms of periodontal disease. These pockets harbour plaque and tartar, which cause the destruction of the bone around the teeth. Bone loss and gum recession will cause teeth to become mobile and even fall out. Unfortunately periodontal disease cannot be treated or reversed without professional help, due to how difficult these areas are to access during normal oral hygiene. Dr. Pang and his expert team can provide effective therapies to stop periodontitis.
What Are The Causes & Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Gum disease typically occurs due to lack of adequate oral hygiene and routine preventive care. This allows calcified tartar build-up to deposit bacteria under the gums, triggering an immune response from your body in an attempt to destroy the cause of the infection. Supporting structures like gum attachment and bone are lost as a side effect. Factors like smoking or diabetes may make it difficult for your body to respond to treatments, increasing your severity of infection.
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, then you likely are experiencing some form of gum disease. We invite you to contact Dr. Pang at Cosmic Smile Dental to book a consultation.
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Red, purple colour of gums
- Bad breath / Halitosis
- Bad taste in your mouth
- Teeth that are mobile
- Receding gums / Exposed roots
- Evidence of pus or drainage around teeth
How Can Cosmic Smile Dental Help?
Dr. Pang and his team have vast experience when it comes to successfully treating gum disease. After your initial consultation to assess the level of infection, a personalised treatment plan will be written out to provide comprehensive therapy based on your individual needs. The most common forms of therapies include:
Prophylaxis
If your symptoms of disease are minor, then patients with gingivitis will simply undergo a routine preventive care appointment. During this cleaning, plaque and tartar deposits will be removed from the surfaces of the teeth, both above and below the gumlines. A prophylaxis is effective for reversing gingivitis symptoms when there is no evidence of bone loss, and tartar deposits are small.
Scaling and Root Planing
This procedure is also called a “deep cleaning.” Similar to a prophylaxis, scaling and root planing appointments also clean your teeth above and below the gumlines. However, this type of cleaning is more involved as it treats areas of active disease, bone loss, and deep tissue pockets around the teeth. More time is required in order to reach areas that are inaccessible for preventive care. Dr. Pang may administer a local anaesthetic to keep the patient comfortable, as well as break the treatment up into 2 sessions so that it does not have to be completed all at once. After successful scaling and root planing procedures, Dr. Pang will monitor the health of your bone height, gum attachment and teeth through routine maintenance appointments.
Gum Surgery
If severe, elective gum surgery may be needed to prevent tooth loss. This therapy is typically referred to a periodontal specialist for completion. One type of gum surgery removes the diseased pocket area, creating a shallower pocket that is easier for the patient to keep clean at home each day. Another type of surgery is gum grafting, which covers exposed root surfaces to stabilize the tooth and prevent sensitivity.
Book with us today!
The elimination of plaque and tartar from your mouth is the only way to stop and prevent gum disease. If it’s been years since you’ve seen a dentist, or you have visible forms of periodontitis symptoms, then book an appointment with us today to prevent serious effects such as tooth loss.
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info@cosmicsmile.com.au
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Address: A: 212/40 Yeo St., Neutral Bay NSW 2089,
Australia
P: 02 9904 2880