Your smile is constantly fending off decay-causing oral bacteria and other issues that threaten its health and integrity. Though you may practice a thorough preventive dental routine at home, sometimes smiles need a bit of help when it comes to maintaining a clean bill of health. Fortunately, our office utilizes advanced dental technology and patient-centered practices to ensure your smile is a priority. In today’s blog, your Greensboro, NC, periodontist explores what it means to properly care for your smile, including cleaning your gums and knowing what to do when you experience symptoms of periodontal infection.
A Closer Look at Gum Disease
Though tooth decay may be one of the first concerns to come to mind when discussing threats to your smile’s health, gum disease—also known as periodontal disease—affects the majority of the United States population in some form or another. Occurring in progressive stages, gum infection often contributes to greater tooth loss than cavities do. This is largely due to the tissues housing teeth becoming weak, damaged, and separated from the teeth themselves.
Gum disease is somewhat of an umbrella term encompassing various stages of infection in the periodontal tissues. Gingivitis is the earliest stage and is characterized by redness and inflammation of the gums, swelling, and bleeding. More advanced stages such as periodontitis occur when the infection spreads to the bone and tissues supporting the teeth, resulting in increased sensitivity, tooth mobility, gum recession, and even bone loss. Ask our team to learn more about gum disease and its impacts.
The Role of Periodontics
As gum infection progresses, the chances of successful treatment that allows you to keep your natural structures reduce significantly. For patients suffering from any of the previously mentioned signs or symptoms, Dr. Gross and our team may recommend periodontal therapy as part of your treatment plan. Periodontics addresses issues affecting the gums and supporting structures, and we will work closely with you to determine the best course of action for your individual needs.
What to Expect from Your Visit
Depending on the level of infection or concern, our soft tissue management or treatment plan may include scaling and root planing to remove plaque deposits from beneath the gumline. This process often involves working in sections of the mouth and will likely require more than one visit to complete. Additionally, our team takes care to ensure you not only understand your oral health and treatment plan but also that you are comfortable every step of the way.
Contact Our Team
Taking care of your smile is a lifelong endeavor that consists of more than just brushing your teeth. Avoid gum and other infections with proper preventive care and regular in-office visits. To learn more about proper periodontal care or to schedule your next appointment with our office, call Dental Care of Greensboro in Greensboro, NC, by dialing (336) 854-9270.