Gum Therapy Coppell, TX

Periodontal Therapy Coppell

The gums are the largest organ inside the mouth. It covers all the teeth from all aspects, and forms a protective layer around them against the oral environment. The condition of the gums is considered an indication for the level of oral hygiene, so in essence, if you want a healthier mouth, you should definitely take care of your gums.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is one of the most common conditions to affect the mouth. Periodontal disease progresses in stages, starting with mere inflammation and reddening of the gums, progressing into swelling and enlargement, and finally, destructive changes start to occur, which are very difficult to treat.

What are the causes of Gum Disease in Coppell?

Gum disease is the direct result of lack of oral care. Your dentist Coppell or hygienist would prescribe a daily cleaning regimen, composed mainly of brushing twice daily, flossing at least 3 times a week, and using mouth wash when recommended. If you fail to follow their instructions, the result is gum disease.

However, this is not always the case. Some patients who take meticulous care of their teeth, still suffer from gum disease. Unfortunately in these situations, there is an underlying hidden cause that cannot be controlled by a strict oral hygiene regimen, such as genetics or medical conditions as diabetes.

What are the signs of gum disease?

Everybody should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of gum disease, so that they could be on alert if the first signs start to appear, since gum disease is much more difficult to treat when it progresses. Some of these signs are:

Redness and inflammation of the gums
Swelling of the gums
Easily bleeding gums, particularly when you brush your teeth.
Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks, which is an indication of progression of the disease.
Receding of the gums, or the feeling that your teeth have grown taller, which is also an indication of progression.
Mobility and drifting of teeth, which unfortunately occur at the end stages of the disease, leaving little choice but to extract them.

Gum Disease Treatment in Coppell

Variable treatment options are available, which highly depend on the stage of the disease. Examples of gum therapy include:

Cleaning and scaling: The most basic and most commonly performed dental procedure ever. This procedure involves using ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove calcified food remnants and debris (called calculus) from the surface of the teeth. Calculus is the main cause of periodontal disease and should be removed as soon as it is formed, which means that a visit to your dentist every few months for cleaning is of the utmost importance.
Deep cleaning and curettage: A somewhat different procedure, but still aiming at removing food remnants and plaque from the deep areas near the root of teeth. This occurs when the disease have reached a certain stage where pockets start to form, and it is impossible to clean them with brushing or flossing. In this case, your dentist or hygienist would use very specialized hand instruments to clean the deep surfaces of the root, ensuring that the condition does not progress into the worse.
Gum Surgery: Surgery is often needed when the disease reached the point of no return, meaning when no amount of cleaning, scaling or curettage would be sufficient to properly clean the food debris and calculus. In these cases, the deep infected areas are exposed with an incision, and the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and prepared. Bone grafts may be needed, and even soft tissue grafts to repair the damage that has been done.

Coppell Dentist Dr. Emeka Abazie and the staff at Smiles By Design Dental would be happy to discuss gum disease treatment in Coppell with you. To learn more, please call our office at (469) 451-5020 or request an appointment online.