Periodontal Therapy – Crete, NE
Take a look at your smile in the mirror. What do you see? Teeth and gums, right? Your gum tissue is not only integral to the appearance of your smile, but to the health of your smile, too. Gums are part of the system that support your teeth and keep them in place. Unfortunately, gums are often neglected to the detriment of oral and general health. Conservative estimates show that nearly 80 percent of the adult population in the United States has some degree of gum or periodontal disease. At Crete Family Dental, Dr. Rossini and his team are serious about helping patients have healthy teeth and gums, so if you have gum disease we have periodontal therapy in our Crete, NE dental office to help arrest the disease and reverse the consequences.
Gum Disease and You
In the beginning, the symptoms of gum disease can be quite stealthy. Many people don’t even recognize the early warning signs. For this reason, your biannual dental checkups are all the more important; our dental hygienists have a trained eye and at each one of these visits we will probe and chart the depths of gum pockets around your teeth to help us track the health of your gum tissue.
Of course, during the months in between your checkups, you need to be aware of the symptoms of gum disease so you can recognize them and seek care before the disease advances. Common signs and symptoms of gum disease are:
- Red and swollen gum tissue
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Gums that are starting to recede; you may notice that your teeth appear to be elongated
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- A change in your bite or in the way your dentures fit
If not treated, gum disease can necessitate tooth extraction. In fact, advanced periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.
Gum Disease and Your Overall Health
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that starts with plaque and tartar buildup. The bacteria that hide in these excrete toxins that begin to breakdown gum tissue and the underlying bone structure. But the problems don’t stop there. Researchers have discovered that there is a link between periodontal disease and other bodily illnesses. For example, a full 90 percent of people who have heart disease also have periodontal disease. Other illnesses connected to gum disease are hypertension, osteoporosis, diabetes, and pregnancy complications.
Periodontal Therapy
At Crete Family Dental we treat gum disease with scaling and root planing, during which plaque and tartar are completely removed and the roots of your teeth are smoothed. We may also apply an antibiotic cream directly to your gums to kill any remaining bacteria.