Periodontal Care in Mission Valley
Reverse & Stop Damage
Gum Disease Therapy
Gum disease is one of the most common dental issues in America. If the condition is left untreated, minor cases of gum disease (gingivitis) can progress and lead to permanent damage to your teeth and gums. If you think you may have gum disease, come see us in Mission Valley as soon as possible. To schedule a consultation at Rio Vista Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, call our Mission Valley dentist at (619) 299-1122 today!
Chew on This
According to the CDC, almost half of American adults suffer from some form of gum disease.
There are three stages of gum disease, each characterized by symptoms with varying levels of severity.
The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is still reversible.
Once gum disease advances past its first stage, the damage done to your teeth and gums is irreversible.
Scaling and root planing (also known as “deep cleaning”) is the most common treatment for gingivitis.
According to the CDC, almost half of American adults suffer from some form of gum disease.
There are three stages of gum disease, each characterized by symptoms with varying levels of severity.
The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is still reversible.
Once gum disease advances past its first stage, the damage done to your teeth and gums is irreversible.
Scaling and root planing (also known as “deep cleaning”) is the most common treatment for gingivitis.
Understanding the Basics
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the gums which is caused by poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush and floss properly, bacteria will begin to build up between your teeth and gums in the form of plaque and tartar. Over time, this bacteria will begin to attack the gums and the roots of your teeth. Eventually, this results in permanent damage to the gums, as well as the underlying jaw bone, and the roots of your teeth. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in Americans of all ages.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gingivitis, Periodontitis, and Advanced Stages
Gum disease occurs in 3 stages. The first stage, gingivitis, is the least serious. This is because gingivitis usually does not cause permanent damage to your teeth and gums. With proper oral hygiene and periodontal care, it can be completely reversed, and the infection can be eliminated.
The second stage of gum disease, often called “periodontitis,” cannot be completely reversed or eliminated, and it will cause permanent damage to your gums and jaw tissue. If you get periodontal care in time, though, you can usually save most or all of your teeth, and halt the progression of the disease.
The final stage of gum disease is called advanced periodontitis, and occurs when gum disease has done significant damage to most or all of your teeth. In many cases, the teeth may become loose, or they may even fall out. Most patients with advanced periodontitis must have their remaining teeth extracted and replaced with dentures.
Causes & Symptoms
What Leads to Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush and floss properly, you may develop gum disease. Your risk of gum disease can be increased by some other lifestyle choices and behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption, an unhealthy diet, and tobacco use.
Different stages of gum disease have distinct symptoms. Gingivitis, the first stage, usually has symptoms like bleeding when brushing, the inflammation or discoloration of the gums, and halitosis (bad breath). As gum disease progresses into periodontitis and advanced periodontitis, more serious symptoms may arise, such as pockets of pus forming between the teeth, gums pulling away from the teeth, loosening of teeth, pain when chewing, and a change in how your teeth fit together.
Treatment Options
Reverse & Halt Gum Disease
Gingivitis and periodontitis are usually treated with a “deep cleaning” (scaling & root planing) which removes bacteria, plaque, and tartar from between the gums and teeth. This, along with antibiotics, is enough to resolve most cases of gum disease. However, regular periodontal maintenance appointments may be required to ensure your mouth stays healthy. For more serious cases of gum disease, surgery may be used to clean up to the roots of the teeth, graft new gum material onto the teeth, or to strengthen bone that has been weakened by gum disease.
We offer PerioProtect as a non-invasive treatment option for gum disease. This treatment uses custom-fitted trays to deliver medicine deep below the gum line and remove bacteria that cannot be reached by brushing and flossing.
Judgement Free Consultations
Contact Us TodayModern Dental Care
Your Local Mission Valley Dentist
hours
M & W: 7am - 6pm
T & Th: 7am - 4pm
F: 7:30am - 2pm
Address
8590 Rio San Diego Drive
Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92108
