Why Gum Disease Treatment is Important

You hear all the cautionary tales about brushing and flossing, how, if you don’t do those two things faithfully, it can lead to tooth decay, even gum disease. But what happens when someone actually gets gum disease?

Treat Your Gum Disease

It’s not a death sentence, though it’s probably one of the things we least want to hear. But once that bad news gets broken, it’s important to take action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (also called the CDC) asserts that over 50% of Americans over the age of 30 live with some form of periodontitis — which is the advanced form of gum disease. That comes out to about 64.7 million adults in the US aren’t taking the right measures to care for their teeth and gums.

The first measure to take is seeking treatment from a qualified oral health specialist. Dr. Louie is a great place to start.

Don’t Fret About Gum Disease, Take Action!

Having a relationship with your dentist that’s in good standing is one of the best ways to fight and prevent gum disease. It’s certainly the best way to deal with a periodontitis diagnosis.

But what is gum disease? It’s an inflammatory condition that affects both hard and soft structures supporting the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums will become swollen and red, which is your body’s natural response to being attacked by harmful bacteria. Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease.

More on Inflammation

Scientists are starting to recognize a link between periodontal disease and other inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

We take a genetic, biological approach to both testing for extant gum disease and treating periodontitis. We’ll consider visible evidence of inflammatory burden, but we’ll also consider the patient’s personal history and distinct genetic susceptibility.

Periodontal Therapy with Dr. Louie

There are numerous ways to restore diseased tissues. Some of the services we offer include:

• Scaling and Root Planing
• Gum Grafting
• Periodontal Plastic Surgery
• Laser Treatment
• Crown Lengthening Surgery
• Dental Implants

Scaling and root planing have to do with dexterous plaque and tartar removal using ultrasonic instruments and hand scaling devices. During a gum grafting procedure we aim to replace the lost areas of tissue to protect your tooth roots.

During periodontal plastic surgery we’ll aim to create a more flexible and aesthetically pleasing gum line, while laser treatment entails removing diseased tissue with the added benefits of minimizing discomfort and gum shrinkage. Crown lengthening surgery is a more cosmetic procedure that allows for crown placement, while dental implants have both cosmetic and functional benefits replacing the tooth and tooth root with prosthetics.

If You’re Experiencing Symptoms, Give Dr. Louie a Call

Gum disease might show up in the form of red, swollen, tender gums, bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating, as well as loose, separating teeth. If you have sores in your mouth or find that your breath is often less than desirable, it’s important to take action now. We can help alleviate these symptoms in addition to treating gum recession.

To get started, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Louie today. It’s our goal to get the whole family’s smile back on track, setting you and your loved ones up for great oral health success in the future. See you at the office!