Gum Disease Treatment Burleson

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a common oral health condition that occurs when bacteria attack the gums and cause bleeding, swelling, and tender soft oral tissues. It can begin with reversible symptoms and progress to a more serious infection that negatively impacts the teeth and bones.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease creating mild symptoms like slight redness and swelling in the gumline. This condition is typically painless, and with professional maintenance, any damage can be reversed. Our dentists will recommend that patients undergo an in-depth cleaning with our team, as well as instructions on how to more effectively floss and brush at home. If gingivitis is not properly cared for or left untreated entirely, it will develop into a much more severe form known as periodontitis.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis occurs when inflammation has reached the soft tissue that supports the teeth, causing bone loss. While this level of periodontal disease is no longer reversible, our team at Marvel Dental can help revitalize your condition and maintain it using updated solutions and procedures.

Signs & Symptoms of Gum Disease

In many cases, the symptoms of periodontal disease may be too subtle for patients to notice until later, which makes routine checkups and cleanings at our practice even more crucial. However, there are some tell-tale signs that you can still look out for when brushing and flossing at home. These include:

• Your gums bleed, especially when brushing or flossing as part of your oral hygiene routine.
• Your gums are very tender, excessively red, or swollen.
• You’re experiencing significant bad breath that lingers even after brushing/flossing/using mouthwash.
• You have teeth that appear longer (a sign of receding gum tissue).
• Your bite feels different or looser.

Scaling & Root Planing

This thorough cleaning will involve removing bacterial deposits from below the gumline and smoothing away rough surfaces on the roots. This will reduce your periodontal pockets and help minimize the infection you’re experiencing to a more manageable level.

Antibiotic Treatment with Arestin

We may recommend using Arestin treatment in conjunction with scaling and root planing. This antibiotic is placed into the gum pockets to kill harmful bacteria and protect the area from further accumulation.

Surgical Intervention

In very severe cases of periodontal disease, surgical care may become necessary. Should it be required that we perform more complex treatment on your gum tissues, our in-house oral surgeon will be sure to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. This may include a gum graft, bone graft, or a periodontal pocket procedure.