Gum Disease Treatment At Melton Dental
Healthy gums are such an important part of a stunning smile. Gum disease, however, can cause severe damage to the gums and bones supporting your teeth, causing problems that go beyond your smile. Did you know that if left untreated, gum disease can progress into more painful dental conditions and even cause tooth loss?
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues we treat at Melton Dental Group. With the right dental care, oral hygiene, early intervention can restore your dental health and give you a beautiful smile with healthy gums!
What is Gum Disease?
Also known as Periodontal disease, gum disease is a condition that affects the tissue surrounding and supporting your teeth. Gum disease is largely caused by poor oral hygiene habits that result in plaque and bacteria accumulation in your mouth. When plaque and bacteria accumulate and harden, it can affect one or many teeth, causing pain and discomfort.
Do You Have Gum Disease?
If you experience the below symptoms, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Melton Dental Group ASAP!
- Redness and swelling of gums
- Bleeding gums when brushing teeth
- Bad breath that won’t go away
- Receding gums
- Sensitive teeth
- Loose teeth
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Tender gums
Stages of Gum Disease
There are two stages of gum disease:
Gingivitis
This first stage is early gum disease, a result of bacterial growth that affects the surface layers of the gum. Predominant symptoms of this stage are bleeding gums and redness or swelling. This can be reversed with regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings with our dentist!
Periodontitis
Left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. In this advanced stage, infection spreads from the gums to the ligaments and bones supporting your teeth. If the condition gets worse, your teeth may become loose and eventually fall out. While this stage cannot be completely cured but can be managed and treated to prevent further bone loss.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is primarily caused by plaque. When plaque builds up and hasn’t been removed through daily brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar. Tartar can destroy the soft tissue surrounding your teeth over time. A proper oral hygiene routine, including daily brushing and flossing along with regular dental checkups, will, however, help avoid this condition altogether.
Besides plaque, there are other factors that can affect the health of your gums. These include:
- Tobacco smoking
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes
- Some medications such as steroids, antiepilepsy, and cancer therapy drugs
- Crooked teeth
- Defective fillings
- Bruxism (grinding of your teeth)
- Poor nutrition
- Pregnancy or puberty
How is Gum Disease Treated?
There are several treatments available at Melton Dental to control the progression of gingivitis.
Scaling and Root Planing
This is a common and non-invasive treatment that gives patients a rigorous, deep cleaning of their gums. Scaling works by scraping away any accumulated tartar above and below the gum line. Root planning focuses on smoothing out uneven spots on the tooth root that tend to harbour bacteria.Curettage
This involves scraping away any unhealthy gum tissue in the infected area using a small tool known as a curette.
Flap surgery
Recommended for mild to advanced periodontal disease, flap surgery is a procedure where the gums are lifted to thoroughly clean away tartar below the gumline.
Bone grafts
If your bone has been damaged, a bone graft will be carried out. Healthy bone will be taken from a different part of your body and grafted into the affected bone to restore stability.Gum grafts
If your gums have receded, a gum graft can help. Healthy gum tissue from the roof of your mouth will be taken and transplanted into the affected areas to replace missing gum tissue.
Why is it Important to Treat Gum Disease?
Whilst causing a lot of pain and discomfort, advanced stages of gum disease (also known as periodontitis) are extremely harmful to your oral and overall health as the infection may spread. Here are some serious health problems that could be caused by gum disease if it’s not treated early on:
- You may experience tooth loss due to receding gums and damaged bones
- The bacteria causing gum disease can enter the bloodstream, triggering chronic inflammation and infection that can weaken your body’s immune system.
- Can also your risk of developing or aggravating health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues, heart attacks, and strokes.
Gum disease doesn’t just affect your physical well-being. We understand that having damaged teeth can also make you feel more conscious about your smile. Our friendly and caring dentists at Melton Dental are here to listen to all your concerns and create a customised treatment plan for you for gum disease and other dental conditions.
How to Prevent Gum Disease
Preventing or controlling gingivitis (gum disease) depends primarily on a good oral hygiene routine. You need to:
- Brush your teeth and along your gum line twice a day.
- Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your enamel and a toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Floss daily to clean in between teeth.
- If you have dentures, clean them regularly as they are prone to plaque buildup.
- Visit your dentist for regular dental check-ups every 6 months.
- Avoid excessive intake of sugary foods and drinks.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use an antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash to control bacteria.
With proper care and maintenance, gum disease is easily preventable in the first place. Our dental professionals at Melton Dental will educate and inform you on the preventative steps you must take to avoid gum disease.
How Much Does Gum Disease Treatment Cost in Melton?
The cost of gum disease treatment depends on certain factors, such as the severity of the condition and the number of teeth affected. Our dentists will be able to provide an accurate estimate of the cost during your initial consultation. We also offer payment options to make dental care accessible and affordable to all patients.
Why Choose Melton Dental?
Looking for a trusted and experienced dental clinic to treat gum disease? You’ve come to the right place. At Melton Dental, our dentists have years of experience treating patients with gum disease in different stages. No matter the severity of your condition, our dentists will do everything possible to alleviate any pain and restore that beautiful smile. We are also continuously up-to-date with the latest developments in gum disease treatment. If you want to learn more, schedule a consultation or simply call us