Gum Disease Treatment – Chesterfield, MO
Healing & Managing Your Infected Gums
As crucial as they are, your teeth aren’t the only big players in oral health. Your gum tissues also play a vital role in your smile, keeping it strong and functional over time. It’s for that reason that our practice offers quality gum disease treatment here in Chesterfield. Through this procedure, Dr. Yenzer and the rest of our team can help your gums work as they should. Learn more about it by reading below or by visiting our office.
Why Choose Yenzer Family Dental of Chesterfield for Gum Disease Treatment?
- State-of-the-Art Laser Treatment
- Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
- Caring & Friendly Dental Team
What is Gum Disease?
At its core, gum disease is an infection of your gums – the soft tissues around your teeth. It occurs when excess plaque builds in your mouth from poor eating, bad oral care, etc. That said, certain factors like genetics, tobacco use, and hormone changes can put you at greater risk.
Gum disease has two distinct stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. The first refers to mild gum inflammation that’s often irritating but reversible. Meanwhile, periodontitis is a full-blown infection that directly attacks your gum and jaw tissues. This second form is irreversible; it can only be managed at best.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Since it has two stages, gum disease can have a wide range of symptoms. Which signs you show will depend on your condition’s severity and onset.
Just look at gingivitis, for example. This first stage of gum disease has symptoms like:
- Gum tenderness
- Gum swelling
- Bleeding gums
- Dark red gums
- Gum recession
- Halitosis (i.e., chronic bad breath)
In contrast, the symptoms for periodontitis tend to be more severe. They include:
- Tooth sensitivity (often due to gum recession)
- Loose permanent teeth
- A shift in your bite
- Changes in your restoration’s fit
- Chewing pain
- Permanent tooth loss
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Before moving forward with care, Dr. Yenzer will give your mouth an oral exam. This step lets him closely assess your gums – whether they’re sensitive, inflamed, etc. He’ll then use his findings to decide on possible treatment options, such as:
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is the standard treatment for gum disease, serving as a “deep cleaning” of your gumline. The initial scaling uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum pockets. “Root planing” later smoothes the roots of each tooth to ensure your gums reattach healthily. As an extra benefit, this second step also reduces your risk of re-infection.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
If you have severe gum disease, we may suggest laser periodontal treatment instead of normal scaling and root planing. This option uses a dental laser to target and remove your infected gum tissue. Since the process is smooth and precise, it reduces bleeding, stays pain-free, and enhances the healing process. These effects make it an excellent alternative to more traditional methods that rely on metal tools.