Gum Disease Treatment – Bartlesville, OK
Giving Your Gums Some Help
Your teeth are vital to a healthy smile, but they aren’t the only important parts. The pink tissues around them - your gums - also need regular care and maintenance. With that said, never fear – Dentistry by Design offers quality gum disease treatment in Bartlesville! This procedure helps your gums fight off infections, ensuring they remain stable, strong, and safe. Learn more about it by reading below, or book a consultation with our dedicated team.
Why Choose Dentistry by Design for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Gum Screenings with Every Dental Checkup
- Member of the Academy of General Dentistry
- Patient & Attentive Dental Team
What is Gum Disease?
At its core, gum disease is an infection of your mouth’s gum tissues. It usually stems from a large buildup of plaque, which often comes from poor eating habits and bad oral hygiene. That said, factors like genetics, hormones, and smoking can also make the condition more likely.
There are two main stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. The first (gingivitis) refers to a slight inflammation of the gums – an annoying but reversible issue. Meanwhile, the second stage (periodontitis) is a severe infection that attacks your jaw and gum tissues. This latter form can’t be reversed or undone; dental work can only manage it.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Because it has two stages, gum disease can cause a wide range of symptoms. Which ones you show will depend on your condition’s severity, progress rate, and so on.
Gingivitis normally causes milder effects and ailments. In particular, its most common signs include:
- Gum tenderness
- Gum recession
- Swollen gums
- Red and bleeding gums
- Chronic bad breath
On the other hand, periodontitis has more severe symptoms. It’s known to prompt:
- Loose permanent teeth
- Chewing pain
- Tooth sensitivity (often due to gum recession)
- A shift in your bite
- Changes in your restoration’s fit
- Permanent tooth loss
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Dr. Lumpkin will assess your smile as part of your initial consultation. Based on what he finds, he’ll then suggest one of several available treatment options:
Scaling & Root Planing
As the standard treatment for gum disease, scaling and root planing is a “deep cleaning” of your gums. The initial scaling uses special tools to remove plaque from beneath your gumline. Once it’s done, root planing smooths out your tooth roots to reduce the risk of reinfection. Such a two-phase treatment takes one to four dental visits, and it can be combined with other options for further effectiveness.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
For severe gum disease, we add laser periodontal treatment to scaling and root planing. This option uses a dental laser to kill the infecting bacteria and remove highly damaged gum tissue. In doing so, it minimizes oral bleeding and eliminates the need for sutures and scalpels. It also ensures you have a relatively smooth, speedy, and comfortable recovery.