The Importance of Healthy Gums
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection that forms in the gums caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque between the teeth and under the gumstypically accelerated by — inadequate or inefficient oral hygiene habits. However, it can be hastened by genetic factors, systemic disease (like diabetes), and habits like smoking or vaping. When left too long, plaque hardens and turns into tartarwhich is nearly — impossible to remove without a professional cleaning.
As tartar accumulates, it creates a roughened microscopic surface that harbors bacteria that attack the soft tissue around the gums. Once the disease progresses, it can cause damage to your health, often hastening the onset of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and low-birth-weight/Prema. When this occurs, you’ll require professional help to restore your smile.
Luckily, our Nashua dentist can easily treat gum disease and protect your smile with periodontal treatment. Learn about our virtually painless, effective treatment options.
Effective Solutions With Beyond Just Smiles
We offer a variety of periodontal treatment options depending on the severity of your condition. We always start with the least invasive options, which are non-surgical. However, in certain or more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to prevent severe damage and restore your smile.
No matter the case, our exceptional dental team will make sure you get the special care you need. We can help you create a personalized at-home and in-office plan to keep your mouth healthy, free of gum disease, and maintain your highest quality of oral health.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Scaling and root planing, or deep cleaning, is most effective for patients suffering from mild to moderate cases of gum disease. During this procedure, your dentist will use an ultrasonic cleaning device to thoroughly clean your gums and remove any plaque.
We’ll smooth out the rough surface of the tooth and roots to prevent bacteria from settling into the sanitized area. This provides a healthy, clean surface to encourage gum reattachment.
Surgical Periodontal Care
If the tissue or bone damage is too severe to be repaired with non-surgical treatment, you’ll likely require a surgical procedure to prevent further damage and restore your oral health.
At your appointment, your Nashua dentist and hygienist will evaluate the severity of your periodontal disease and recommend the most effective treatment for you. This may include:
- Pocket Depth Reduction — This treatment is used to alleviate the effects of periodontal disease and restore your mouth to a healthy state. We’re able to visually see the damage, access the tooth root, and effectively clean the infected area. We will suture the gum to the bone to promote healing.
- Guided Tissue Regeneration — If you suffer from periodontitis, this procedure will reshape the bone that holds your teeth in place. He will gently fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria, plaque, and tartar. We may perform a bone graft to stimulate new bone growth or apply special biological membranes or proteins that stimulate tissue growth in order to repair the affected areas.
- Soft-Tissue Graft — For more advanced cases, we will use a gum graft to remove the infection and restore the tissue. We’ll remove healthy gum tissue from the roof of your mouth and use it to rebuild and strengthen the area where your gums are receding. This procedure can also be performed for cosmetic reasons.