Types of Gum Disease

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage.

Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Periodontitis

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.

• Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
• Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.
• Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.
• Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.

Treatment Options

Periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, but if it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be needed.

Scaling & Root Planning

Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Scaling and root planing is sometimes followed by adjunctive therapy on a case-by-case basis.

Most periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require any further active treatment. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health.

Period Maintanence

After scaling you come back 6 weeks later to have your first perio maintenance (PMX) to check pockets and how your gums are healing. Periodontal maintenance is similar to regular dental appointments, but provides a deeper cleaning on a more frequent basis.

LANAP

(Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a phenomenal new periodontal disease treatment technology designed to offer a better solution than those of gum disease treatment protocols of years past. Older periodontal disease treatments called for invasive treatments; cutting and drilling away tooth and gums, or even extracting teeth entirely. The LANAP treatment allows us to remove the periodontal disease and bacteria with laser precision. Your gums can then heal quickly and return to their natural, healthy state.

What is LANAP?

LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a phenomenal new periodontal disease treatment technology designed to offer a better solution than those of gum disease treatment protocols of years past. Older periodontal disease treatments called for invasive treatments; cutting and drilling away tooth and gums, or even extracting teeth entirely. The LANAP treatment allows us to remove the periodontal disease and bacteria with laser precision… literally! Your gums can then heal quickly and return to their natural, healthy state.

Benefits of LANAP Periodontal Disease Treatment

More Comfortable | No cutting. No stitches. Less bleeding. LANAP periodontal disease treatment is much more comfortable than previous treatment options. This means you can get the care you need and don’t need to worry about the discomfort previously associated with gum disease treatment.

Quick Healing | Because the source of inflammation is (gum disease) is removed and less invasive methods are used, your down time turns into up time much faster.

Saves Teeth | The laser precision of LANAP allows us to exactly address and eradicate the harmful bacteria and disease without needing to remove teeth.

If you have sore or bleeding gums and are hesitant to visit the dentist to address it, stop! We can effectively and comfortably treat the issue and restore you to optimal oral health, so call us