Periodontal Therapy for Gum Disease

Gum Therapy

Snowy River Dental can help treat periodontal disease.

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Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, affects about 30% of the adult population, and it's the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Many denture cases begin because of this chronic condition. While late stages of gum disease are not curable, with a dedicated professional hygiene regimen and consistent at-home care, Snowy River Dental can help you take back control of your oral health. Gum disease can advance with few signs or symptoms in early stages. Many patients diagnosed with this condition experience no pain and are surprised by the quiet yet swift damage that periodontal disease leaves in its wake. In simple terms, consider the gums and bone around your teeth as the foundation of a house. Just like a house, the foundation must be sound regardless of the beauty of the home. When the foundation crumbles, the rest of it does too. Cavities target the inside of the tooth and can be addressed with fillings, onlays, inlays or crowns, but gum disease attacks the tooth's foundation and is caused by the bacteria around the outside of the tooth. Regular dental exams, professional cleanings, and good oral hygiene practices at home are essential to detecting and strategically managing periodontitis.


Gum Disease and Tooth Loss

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. When left untreated, you can expect receding gums and tooth loss. But it doesn’t have to ruin your smile. A targeted, strategic cleaning schedule and a precise at-home regimen can help keep this chronic condition under control.



What Causes Gum Disease?

Our mouths provide a home to millions of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. Bacterial waste forms a sticky substance, plaque, which adheres to the teeth. Brushing and flossing aim at removing plaque before it mineralizes into tartar. Tartar becomes a colony for more bacteria releasing toxins into the gums. Gums react to this bacterial invasion with an inflammatory response thanks to your immune system. Around the base of each tooth, there is a small collar of gum tissue that forms a small crevice or pocket. This warm, dark environment provides a perfect habitat for deeper tartar and bacteria to infiltrate. Early inflammation results in bleeding gums, known as gingivitis. Bacteria left untreated and undisturbed successfully create a chronic infection in the periodontal pocket. In many cases, the bone begins to deteriorate around the teeth. While gums may be slightly tender at this stage, there's generally minimal discomfort as the bone begins to erode. More than 50% of the bone around your teeth can disappear before any signs of looseness or pain appear. The bone around teeth never regenerates, so this loss becomes permanent and harder to control as the bacteria hide deeper into the gums. Untreated gum disease leads to abscesses and generalized tooth loss in many advanced cases.



Diagnosis of Gum Disease

There are several factors we take into account before we make a gum disease diagnosis. The small collar of gum, or pocket, around each tooth usually sits 2-3 millimeters deep, a space easily cleaned by floss or toothpicks. Dr. Bradshaw or our hygiene team can measure and chart multiple areas using a small measuring device called a periodontal probe. If these measurements are more than 3 millimeters and bleed upon probing then periodontal disease is present. Deeper readings indicate more advanced disease than shallower readings. Dr. Bradshaw will also evaluate the texture and shape of your gums, and any movement detectable in each tooth. It's also vital to examine the levels, shape, and density of the bone around your teeth on digital x-rays. By collecting all of this data, a clear picture forms about your gum condition.




Treatment for Gum Disease

After establishing a diagnosis defining the severity of gum disease, we can develop a personalized treatment plan. In milder forms with little or no bone loss, one or two visits with our hygiene team may bring the condition under control. When you leave our office with a strategy for daily home care and an established schedule for maintenance, little additional treatment may be needed.If the inflammation has advanced and measurable bone loss is evident, a proactive approach to stop further deterioration should be strongly considered. Often, we will suggest gentle numbing of your gums, and a more in-depth cleaning process sometimes called root planing or scaling. Over a few visits, a portion of your mouth at a time will be deep cleaned. The infected pocket around each tooth, including the mineralized tartar, must be carefully cleaned out with hand and ultrasonic instruments. Polishing the teeth to establish glassy surfaces that help repel stain and plaque accumulation usually finishes this initial therapy. Dr. Bradshaw may suggest a medicated rinse, an electric or ultrasonic toothbrush, and other specific strategies to help you with your home care routine. Remember, gum disease can be controlled but not cured. Dedicated daily efforts must be consistent to control the disease.



Daily Home Care for Periodontitis

Regular home care is critical to arrest the progression of periodontitis (gum disease). Within a few hours of cleaning, the bacteria begin to repopulate and adhere to the teeth. Plaque left undisturbed will start to harden and mineralize within 24 hours. Remember, deeper gum pockets require even more diligence to prevent the bacteria from undermining the foundation of your teeth. Since gum pockets previously damaged by bacteria can be difficult to reach at home, a faithful maintenance schedule with us is essential. We can customize your plan to include 2, 3 or 4 visits a year depending on the severity of disease, its response to treatment, and the consistency of your home care. If our combined efforts don't slow or stop the progression of your gum disease, we will suggest referral to a specialist, known as a periodontist. With specialized training in many gum conditions, further treatment may be recommended.



Importance of Periodontal Therapy for Overall Health

Research continues to establish clear links between bacterial disease in your mouth and ailments in other parts of the body. Studies show a link between oral bacteria and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Alzheimer's, even certain types of cancers. The relationship between a person’s oral health and their whole body health has never been more understood than it is today. Bleeding gums provide a direct pathway into the bloodstream, a journey that oral bacteria can quickly take. If an open wound existed on your skin, infection would be a concern. Gum tissue that bleeds should be looked at no differently. This helps explain why researchers continue to identify oral bacteria deposits in various areas of our bodies. Diabetes and other auto-immune disorders lower the body's ability to fight infection, allowing uncontrolled gum disease to advance faster and with more destruction. Research also confirms that the inflammation in the mouth can aggravate diabetes, making it harder to control. This two-way relationship between two chronic conditions emphasizes the importance of optimal oral health.


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Other Snowy River Dental Services

When you're looking for a dentist near the Wood River Valley we are your local, comprehensive dental solution for the entire family. We see dental patients from Hailey, Wood River, Ketchum, Gimlet, Sun Valley, and more.

A focus on preventive dentistry helps you maintain the highest standard of oral health while limiting dental expenditures. 
When you step into Snowy River Dental, you'll know you've found the perfect place for your family's care. 
Volumes of research confirm the influential role of smiles on our relationships and our self-esteem. 
Dr. Bradshaw’s background in restorative dentistry allows him to develop solutions for every scenario. 
Wisdom teeth, extra teeth, or very crowded teeth present situations that may mean treatment involving removal. 
Oral appliances offer simple, non-invasive care for a variety of conditions. 
You can experience dental treatment in a comfortable, customized approach with several different methods of sedation. 
Dr. Danton Bradshaw carefully selects technologies proven to deliver the finest experience to their patients. 
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