Treatment Solutions to Protect Your Oral Health
Healthy gums are a crucial component of your overall health. If they get infected, it can result in a wide range of serious health conditions. Unfortunately, gum disease is a common affliction that affects nearly half of adults who are 30 and older.
Explore our guide to learn some important facts about gum disease and how Dr. Cooper and Dr. Pham can eliminate it.
What is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is an oral infection that develops in your gum tissue. The condition is caused by a buildup of plaque, a type of harmful bacteria that sticks to your teeth. The best way to prevent plaque from accumulating is daily brushing and flossing, along with regular dental checkups.
There are two primary stages of gum disease:
- Gingivitis — In this early stage, your gums will appear red and inflamed but you likely won’t feel any pain or other symptoms.
- Periodontitis — Without fast treatment, gingivitis will progress to the more severe stage of periodontitis. At this point, the bacteria will start to destroy the underlying bones and tissues in your mouth, resulting in severe pain and eventual tooth loss.
Risk Factors For Gum Disease
There are many factors that can increase your risk of gum disease. Some of these include:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Diabetes
- Medications that reduce saliva flow
- Certain health conditions, such as cancer and AIDS
- Aging
- Stress
- Genetics
If you notice that your gums look red, or if they start to bleed when you brush your teeth, contact our office right away so Dr. Cooper or Dr. Pham can treat the infection before it grows more severe.
Treatment Options For Gum Disease
Scaling and Root Planing
While your infection is still in the gingivitis stage, we can perform a scaling and root planing procedure. Also known as deep cleaning, this treatment involves using specialized tools to remove plaque from below your gumline. In most cases, scaling and root planing combined with improved oral care at home is enough to eliminate gingivitis.
Gum Graft
Once your infection has progressed to periodontitis, your gum tissue will start to recede and leave the roots of your teeth exposed. This causes toothaches and sensitivity to hot and cold, among other issues. A gum graft will restore the health and appearance of your gums, relieving your symptoms and enhancing your smile.
To perform a gum graft, we’ll take healthy tissue from a donor source and graft it to the receding areas of your gums. This new tissue will integrate with the rest of your gums and cover up your exposed tooth roots.
Laser Gum Lift
Many patients complain that they have a “gummy smile” — in other words, not enough of their teeth are exposed. If you’re one of these patients, Dr. Cooper or Dr. Pham can use our specialized periodontal laser to remove unwanted gum tissue without harming the rest of your gums.
Unlike traditional periodontal surgery, laser treatment doesn’t involve scalpels or stitches and it’s totally pain-free. With Dr. Cooper and Dr. Pham’s help, you can finally achieve the stunning smile you’ve always wanted.
Visit Contemporary Dental Arts for Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is far more common than most patients realize and it can lead to serious health consequences without treatment. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, call our office in San Jose at (408) 253-4150 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Pham and Dr. Pham today.
