Gum Disease Treatment

Gum Disease Can Mean Lost Teeth
Often tooth loss is due to gum disease. Gum disease can be completely painless in the early stages. Symptoms include bleeding gums when you brush or floss and loose or shifting teeth. If you’ve been told you need gum surgery, you will be glad to know that it’s possible to control gum disease with a variety of non-surgical methods.

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and
Even Stroke
The statistics are staggering. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. At that rate, afflictions such as AIDS or tuberculosis would be considered epidemic. Most dentists do, in fact, consider gum disease at an epidemic level. But the biggest consequence was believed to be lost teeth. Hardly pleasant, but not life threatening. Or is it? Recent medical research has linked gum disease, stroke, and heart disease. Since heart disease can be fatal, gum disease is obviously a serious matter.

The American Academy of Periodontology reports: “studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria can travel into the bloodstream – straight to the heart.

The Truth about Losing a Tooth
Even though losing a tooth isn’t directly life threatening, a single missing tooth can still cause many problems. The other teeth try to fill in the gaps, which can mean tilting and poor alignment. This interferes with chewing and your ability to absorb nutrients from your food. For some patients, the change in appearance can be even worse. With no teeth to support your face, it can gain a sunken look and make you look older. It can make talking difficult, and the inability to chew in those spaces can cause you to favor softer foods and more carbohydrates, often leading to weight gain.

So Let’s Hold on to Those Teeth
With gingivitis and mild periodontal disease several highly effective non-surgical procedures can virtually halt the spread of the disease. It starts with prevention and the best oral hygiene. Our team of hygienists at the Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford will work with our patients and their periodontal issues. Deep cleaning includes scaling and root planing, procedures that remove plaque and tartar at and below the gumline. Patients who need it are also given ARESTIN™, an antibiotic that is delivered directly to the pockets in the gums, where it can kill the bacteria that causes gum disease.

Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford
298 Broad Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 235-5588
DentalGroupCT.com