Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of your gums caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth. It occurs in two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis

In the earliest stage of periodontal disease, your gums become irritated and inflamed from the bacteria in plaque and tartar. There is no lasting damage to your gums or teeth at this stage, but your gums bleed when you brush or floss. If left untreated, gingivitis develops into periodontitis.

Periodontitis

In this advanced stage of gum disease, your gums begin to pull away from the irritating plaque and tartar on your teeth. As your gums recede, pockets begin to form between your teeth and your gums. These pockets collect debris and bacteria that further irritate your gums, causing them to recede more. As your body tries to fight the infection, it breaks down the connective tissue holding your teeth in place, which eventually leads to them falling out.

Other reasons for extractions include:

• Risk of infection from an unsuccessful root canal

• Risk of infection during an organ transplant or chemotherapy

• Severe periodontal (gum) disease

• Extra or crowded teeth

• No room for wisdom teeth (third molars)

Some of the signs that you might be developing periodontal disease include:

• Red, tender, or swollen gums

• Receding gums, or the appearance of longer teeth

• Bleeding when you brush or floss

• Loose teeth

• Changes in how your bite feels

• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Periodontal disease is notorious for developing silently. Many people aren’t even aware that they have it until it’s already in the most advanced stages.

While its symptoms may not always be noticeable to you, Dr. Cheney and his talented team of professionals are trained to spot signs periodontal diseases at its earliest stages. It’s incredibly important to maintain regular visits with Dr. Cheney in order to stay on top of your gum health and prevent the development of the disease.

A surgical extraction is a bit more complicated. The tooth may not have come through the surface of your gums, as is common with wisdom teeth, or it may have broken off at your gum line. To perform a surgical extraction, Dr. Cheney will need to make a small cut in your gum to lift the tooth out. The affected tooth may need to be sectioned (cut into parts) so it can be more easily removed. Some bone may also need to be removed from around the tooth.

Dr. Cheney gives you a local anesthetic before both a surgical extraction and simple extraction, so you don’t feel any pain. If multiple teeth are extracted at the same time, as is routine with wisdom teeth extraction, he may give you a general anesthetic so you don’t feel pain and you sleep through the entire procedure.

The best treatment for periodontal disease is prevention, so it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly and keeping up-to-date with visits to Complete Dental Arts.

If you’ve developed periodontal disease, though, there are a number of different procedures that Dr. Cheney performs to get your gums healthy again.

Gingivitis can actually be reversed with nonsurgical treatments like antibiotics or a deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing. In scaling, Dr. Cheney scrapes away the plaque and tartar above and below your gum line to remove the infectious bacteria that’s irritating your gums.

In root planing, Dr. Cheney smooths out the rough spots on your tooth, making it more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate and giving your gums a smooth, clean surface to reattach to.

More advanced stages of periodontal disease can be treated with surgical procedures, like bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and flap surgery.

Let Dr. Cheney’s skills and experience get your gums back to good health today by scheduling an appointment with Complete Dental Arts. You can call the office or book online.