Gum Disease Treatment
Improve Gum Health with Preventive Care Tailored to Your Oral Needs
Gums are often overlooked when it comes to oral health, the entire focus being on healthy and white teeth. While aesthetics is an important part of oral care, it must not be forgotten that a healthy smile is always the most beautiful smile. And gums are what hold our teeth together, providing a secure base for our teeth and preventing bacteria from entering our bodies.
At Lower Plenty Dental, we believe the path to a healthier life begins with understanding how your physical and oral well-being work together to bring about a well-balanced, stronger you at every level. The first step to getting there starts with learning to care for your teeth and gums for optimal whole-mouth health and overall wellness.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The primary cause of gum disease is plaque buildup, a sticky, colourless film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth and gums. It’s a natural occurrence that develops when the bacteria in your mouth combine with the sugars and starches from the food you consume. While plaque is a normal part of oral health, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not properly managed.
As plaque builds up on your teeth and along the gumline, it can harden into tartar, creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. If left untreated, these bacteria can irritate your gums, leading to inflammation and eventually progressing from the early stage (gingivitis) to periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease, which is irreversible and can lead to potential tooth loss and other serious health and oral complications.
Fortunately, gum disease can easily be prevented through proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups. However, early intervention and comprehensive periodontal care are essential to manage the potential consequences and minimise further damage once gum disease progresses.
Gum Disease Treatment In Lower Plenty Dental
Our dentists will perform a thorough gum examination after the periodontal disease is first detected. It includes gum depth measurements, assessment of tooth mobility, inflammation, gum shrinkage or recession, and tooth root forking (furcation involvement), along with X-rays to map the mouth bone levels. This allows us to determine the extent of the disease and formulate a personalised treatment plan to stabilise the disease and prevent it from progressing.
You may need several appointments, usually one to 4, depending on the condition of your gums and the extent of the disease. During these visits, our dentists will perform gum scaling or root planing, removing calculus, plaque, bacteria, and toxins below the gum line and teeth surfaces, allowing your gums to heal. Local anaesthesia may be used to ensure your comfort.
In cases where the progression of periodontal disease is particularly aggressive and challenging to control, we may recommend seeking consultation with a specialist periodontist.
Gum Disease Prevention
Our gum health solutions also include oral hygiene instruction tailored to your needs, comprehensive dental examinations to detect potential risks and targeted treatments to correct emerging and reactive issues.
- Provide prevention strategies aimed at achieving optimal gum health.
- Keep your dental health on track with regular dental checkups.
- Teach you the correct brushing and flossing techniques, showing you the techniques for effective cleaning between the teeth to prevent the onset of dental problems.
- Recommend age-appropriate and health-specific products and tools to maintain gum health.
- Provide personalised gingivitis and gum disease treatment according to the condition of your gums to minimise damage and get you back towards optimal oral health.