Our mouths and teeth clearly signal problems through tenderness and pain. If you pay attention to these signs, you will know when your mouth needs extra care. Pain, tenderness, swelling, and bleeding in your gums lasting several days indicate possible periodontal disease. You may need periodontal therapy in Jackson Hole to treat the condition effectively.
Periodontal disease is a gum infection caused by bacteria in plaque. When you don’t remove plaque by brushing and flossing twice daily, it builds up and damages gum tissue. Dentists diagnose periodontal disease in stages to determine the best treatment approach. At Dental Care of Jackson Hole, we educate patients about periodontal disease and available treatments in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Gingivitis Therapy
We call gingivitis the earliest stage of periodontal disease a patient can experience. This stage gives us a chance to treat and completely reverse the disease. At our office, Dr. Paula Schmidt or a hygienist diagnoses patients with any periodontal disease stage. Once we diagnose periodontal disease, we must begin treatment immediately to stop its spread and prevent permanent mouth damage. For early-stage gingivitis, we treat it by providing two professional cleanings each year.
Gingivitis can be cured or removed by eliminating plaque around the gumline and taking care of your teeth at home. If symptoms worsen, please give our office a call for further assistance.
Periodontal Therapy in Jackson Hole
Not seeking immediate attention once experiencing gingivitis, patients will need further and possibly extensive treatment. Later stages of periodontal disease, in some cases, cannot fully be reversed, and the patient will need to seek constant treatment. Many dental problems can arise once the disease has worsened or spread. Patients are at higher risk for tooth loss, gum recession, and jaw bone deterioration.
Although there are many risks associated with later periodontal disease, at Dental Care of Jackson Hole, we offer great therapy to help fight it and restore your mouth if damaged. Treatments for later-stage disease include:
Scaling and Root Planing: This therapy type removes plaque along the gumline and down on the tooth’s root. The dentist and hygienist use a sharp, hooked instrument called a scaler to remove the plaque and hardened tartar from the tooth. Through this process, the teeth and the roots become smooth once again, which will help promote socket shrinkage and gum to tooth reattachment.
If sockets around the tooth cease to heal and shrink around the tooth, we might recommend surgery.
Further Therapy: When it comes to periodontal disease, there is a high risk for gum, tooth, and bone loss. Because of this, in some cases, Dr. Schmidt will refer you to a gum and bone specialist to help restore tissues. Gum and bone grafts replace old, dead tissue with healthy tissue. If, by chance, you have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, there are also tooth restoration options available to you.
Give us a Call
If you have noticed possible signs of periodontal disease, please call our office, Dental Care of Jackson Hole, today.