Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum line. If it is left untreated by a periodontist, it can affect the bone that supports your teeth. Symptoms of gum disease can include swollen, tender, or bleeding gums. You could also be experiencing receding gums or persistent bad breath. Our Boca Raton, FL dentist office offers both screenings and treatment.
Signs of periodontal disease can include:
- Receding gums
- Bleeding gums
- Loosening teeth
- Teeth that look "long"
- A change in your bite
When your body senses threats like infections, lacerations, or foreign bacteria, it is designed to rush support to try to heal and protect the area being threatened. The inflammatory response in healthy individuals kills off bacteria and helps to speed healing.
Unfortunately, when it comes to infections in your mouth, treatment can be a little more complicated. When your body detects plaque, tartar and bacteria in your mouth, Instead of actively attacking the bacteria, it starts to protect itself by backing away.
If the early stages of gum disease are left untreated by a periodontist, gums will recede away from the teeth, which can trigger a variety of other dental and oral health problems.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease Treatment
Gingivitis is often painless at first, making it difficult to diagnose without regular dental checkups. Inflammation of the gums can be a potentially serious condition, which is why it’s vital to get regular dental exams from Boca Smiles.
If you have been diagnosed with or are concerned you might have gingivitis, Dr. Capellan offers a range of treatments to reverse or stop gum disease’s progression. If you are in the early stages of gingivitis, most treatment options are non-surgical procedures.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
If you visit Boca Smiles every six months for your routine cleaning, you know it involves scaling your teeth and gumline to remove plaque and tartar, and polishing to remove stains and smooth the tooth's surface. However, if you have symptoms of gum disease, you might need a different type of cleaning called scaling and root planing.
Scaling and root planing is a deep dental cleaning procedure Dr. Capellan performs to treat patients with current or developing gum disease. Not all patients need this level of cleaning, but it is key for patients concerned with gingivitis.
Arestin Periodontal Treatment
Gum disease can often be treated with an antibiotic. Instead of using an oral antibiotic, Dr. Capellan uses Arestin, an antibiotic bioresorbable gel. This treatment is placed directly into infected areas in your gums when scaling and root planing is completed. The benefit of using Arestin is that it allows gum disease to be treated right at the site without exposing the rest of a patient's body to antibiotic therapy.
Bone Grafting
Periodontal disease can cause the jawbone to become too weak to support a dental implant or other dental prosthesis. In cases like this, Dr. Capellan will often recommend bone grafting (also known as natural bone regeneration or osseous grafting) to promote healthy bone growth and thicken your jawbone.
Over time, your jawbone will naturally regenerate and become strong enough to support a dental implant.
Have you been diagnosed with gingivitis? Are you concerned you might be suffering from gum disease? Call Boca Smile Center to schedule an appointment with our on-site periodontist Dr. Capellan.
Our Boca Raton dental team will take the time to do a thorough exam and discuss your oral health concerns with you before beginning any gum disease treatment you need.
Dr. Capellan can help evaluate you for braces and straighten your teeth at our Boca Raton, FL dentist office without referring you to an orthodontist for traditional brackets and wires
