Facts About Periodontal Disease Treatment in Oakland
Even though the periodontal disease is a common problem in dental care, few people have sufficient knowledge about the disorder. Most people familiarize themselves with dental problems solely related to teeth. However, the mouth comprises of several other features that should also be accounted for in oral health.
What is Periodontal Disease?
It is a disorder in dentistry that affects the gum tissue. It occurs when an infection in the gums manifests different symptoms. The disease affects patients differently. The differences are marked by the level of infection as well as the cause. Most people do not realize they have the disease until it advances to a severe stage.
Are There Different Types of Periodontal Disease?
In gum disease treatment, your dentist may talk about different types of this disease. The types are all gum infections, but the differences are indicated by the progression of the disease. The different levels are:
- Gingivitis – is the initial stage of the infection. The symptoms of gingivitis are mild. This makes it unnoticeable for patients, especially without keenness.
- Periodontitis – is a progression of gingivitis. At this stage, the infection of the gum tissue has been allowed sufficient time to grow and cause further damage in the mouth. The symptoms, therefore, are very evident, and often severe. They range from frequent gum bleeding, to loss of teeth, which has more permanent effects.
What Are The Giveaway Symptoms of Gum Disease?
The symptoms of periodontal disease differ depending on which stage of the infection you detect it. An Oakland dentist near you will take time to thoroughly examine your gums to find out whether or not you have the infection. The easiest way to self-diagnose gum disease is by considering the symptoms. The most common symptoms patients experience include the following:
- Tenderness and pain of the gums – infection weakens the gum tissue. This causes them to be tender. You may also experience pain when chewing foods.
- Bleeding gums – it is commonly experienced when patients try to brush their teeth. The tenderness of the gum tissue makes them predisposed to easy damage from any slight abrasion. Bleeding may also be experienced when chewing and biting into foods, more so hard foods.
- Swollen gums – the body’s immune system often responds with inflammation to damage and infection. It explains why your gums may feel swollen.
- Reddening of the gums – the infection will trigger a response from the blood vessels underneath the gum tissue. This causes reddening.
- Exposed roots – the roots of your teeth may begin to show following an infection in your gums. The infection usually causes the gum tissue to recede from teeth. This forms large gum pockets that expose the roots of teeth. The best way to notice this change is to not only consider the visibility of your roots, but also the appearance of teeth. If your teeth look bigger than usual, your gums may have started to recede.
- Shaky teeth – gums are as important for supporting teeth as the jawbone. If you have problems with your gums, it means that the support system for your teeth is compromised. For patients with periodontitis, a shaky tooth is a common phenomenon. If you allow this to go on for too long, it won’t be long before your teeth start to fall off.
More about Treatment Options
The treatments available for gum infection differ depending on the stage of infection. The more advanced the infection, the more invasive the treatment is. Some of the treatment options include:
- Antibiotics – prescriptions by your periodontist will help fight bacterial infection in your mouth. This will manage it and prevent the bacteria from spreading the infection to the remaining healthy gum tissue in your mouth.
- Scaling – this features the removal of plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar are the main reasons why patients get gum infection.
- Lifestyle adjustments – sometimes periodontal disorders result from bad lifestyle habits. Refraining from such can help control infection of your gums. This includes reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking and tobacco usage, to mention a few.
- Gum grafting – is a surgical procedure used to restore the receded gum tissue. Upon severe damage, a lot of your gum tissue may be lost. The surgical procedure relies on gum grafts to facilitate regeneration of gum tissue.