Home › Services › Periodontal Care
Periodontal Care
New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA
Periodontal Care provided by Dr. Gus Dehni
and Dr. Chris Webb
in New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
 Your periodontal or gum tissue needs to be cared for, much like your teeth. Gums are subject to the same bacteria and disease, therefore they need to be cleaned and rid of infection causing bacteria. Working with our team at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we have incorporated education and demonstration into all of our dental cleaning appointments. We believe patient education is the best way to maintain a healthy mouth, including your gums.
Your periodontal tissue is the soft, pink gum tissue that rests over your jaws. It plays the extremely important role of holding your teeth stable in their socket. We want to protect this tissue because we want it to continue doing its job. When gum tissue becomes infected, it pulls away from the teeth to get away from the source causing infection because it is unable to fight the infection on its own, it only knows to retreat. We can prevent this change in the tissue by removing the bacteria and helping the tissue stay healthy.
Request an Appointment
On This Page:
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is often known better as gum disease. It is an infection of the gum tissue. Our mouths are constantly creating a biofilm known as plaque. Plaque is a blend of saliva blended with food particles in your mouth. It is part of a natural cleaning process that our mouth does. The problem is that much of our food and drinks today contain sugar. The bacteria in plaque loves to feed on the sugars in our mouth. So, as bacteria collects on our teeth and along the gum ridge, the bacteria happily eats away and then emits an acid that destroys our teeth and gums. We not only develop caries or cavities, but we also develop gum disease. Shockingly, nearly half of adults suffer from some level of gum disease.
Periodontal disease can be grouped into different degrees of severity. The first degree is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is an infection that can often be removed simply through a professional dental cleaning and some education on proper dental hygiene, such as consistency with flossing. If the patient chooses to allow the infection to advance, the next degree is known as periodontitis. This means that there is evidence of damage to the supporting tissue and bone. We may need to perform a deep cleaning through scaling and root planing. If the patient chooses to allow periodontitis to continue, this is known as chronic periodontitis, meaning the infection has continued to rage and the damage is growing. Chronic periodontitis is damaging to the bone and often results in the loss of some teeth. It is also the number one reason for tooth loss in adults.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Gum disease can be treated and maintained through education and guidance. Depending on the severity, it may require more frequent dental visits and treatment. We want to rid the tissue of disease and then help your gum or periodontal tissue rebuild.
Other Pages About Gum Disease & Treatment
Schedule Your Appointment
If you would like to learn more about your periodontal health call 508-204-3145 and schedule your appointment today!
Request an Appointment
|
