If you had the most beautiful teeth in the world but poor gum health, you could lose those beautiful teeth. That is why, at Downey Dental Arts, we promote gum health through state-of-the-art periodontics treatment in Southern California. We want you to keep your beautiful smile.
Periodontics is the specialization in dentistry that focuses on the health and function of the gum tissue, also called the gingiva. When the gums are healthy, the teeth have a strong foundation on which to thrive. When the gums become inflamed, red, sore, and bleed excessively, this is a sign of gum disease, aka periodontal disease. The earlier we treat gum disease, the better it is for the health of your gums and teeth.
The formal name for gum disease is periodontal disease. This is a type of disease that affects the gum tissue. If it spreads, it can also negatively impact the teeth and the bone of the jaw. When periodontal disease gets into its later stages, teeth can become loose and fall out completely.
Bacteria in the mouth are the cause of periodontal disease, and those bacteria are “enabled” by poor dental hygiene habits. Also, sometimes people are genetically prone to gum disease and will be much more likely to get it. Weakened immune systems can also increase the possibility of gum disease.
Once the bacteria get a foothold on the teeth due to plaque and tartar, they emit acids that corrode tooth enamel and cause the gums to become inflamed. Inflamed gums are not only painful at times, but they become weakened and pull away from the teeth they are supposed to be supporting. This is what, in part, can cause tooth loss.
Gum disease may sneak up on you, but there are some telltale signs that it may be impacting the health of your teeth:
One of the most important periodontal treatments is deep dental cleaning in the form of root scaling and planing, which is performed when periodontal disease has progressed, and we want to halt the progression. This type of dental cleaning is far more thorough than the standard routine teeth cleaning and may involve an ultrasound device to clean deep below the gum line.
Once the root scaling and planing is complete, we will usually put you on a schedule of periodontal maintenance cleanings, which replace your routine teeth cleanings.
For more advanced stages of periodontal disease, we may need to remove teeth to stabilize things. A special type of dental surgery called gum-graft surgery may be able to help repair gum tissue.
If periodontal disease is treated early on, then we can halt its progression, and health can return to the gums. For advanced stages of periodontal disease, some tooth and bone loss might not be reversible. However, we can restore the mouth with restorative dentistry technologies such as bone grafts and dental bridges to replace lost teeth.
If you think you might have gum disease in Southern California, call Downey Dental Arts at (562) 445-3363 to schedule a comprehensive periodontal exam. Our periodontal dentist will examine your teeth and gums. We will also measure the periodontal pockets, aka gum pockets, which identify how far the periodontal disease has progressed. Gum pockets over 3 mm are indicative of periodontitis, that is, infection of the gums, and that means periodontal disease.
Root scaling and planing, the deep dental cleanings used to “put you on the right track,” aren’t performed that frequently. These extensive cleanings usually cost a few hundred dollars per “quadrant” or section of the mouth.
For your regular periodontal maintenance cleaning, the cost can range from approximately $75 to $150. Basic dental insurance plans usually do not cover periodontal cleanings, but some premium dental plans offer periodontal treatment coverage. Downey Dental Arts also offers highly flexible payment and financing options.
Periodontics Treatment in Downey
If you have bleeding gums or signs of gum disease, contact us today by calling (562) 445-3363 to schedule your appointment to discuss periodontal treatment at Downey Dental Arts.
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